premise: Two men posing as council workers have been accused of stealing 500 from an 84-year-old man after offering to clear up leaves from the driveway of his home. The two men called at a house in Aspenwood Drive, Sherlston, owned and lived in by Mr Stephen Pimblett during the morning of 12 October. After introducing them- selves, they offered to sweep up the leaves and remove them for the sum of 20, which he accepted. When the two men had completed the task he invited them into the house in order to pay them the agreed sum. At that point they informed him that the cost had risen to 75 because: they had cleared the garden of leaves in addition to the drive; and, he would have to bear the cost of transporting the large quantity leaves to the council refuge collection point. He paid them the amount they had asked for, but he later claimed that they had stolen an additional sum of money from his house. It is also known that: Thieves posing as council workers and representatives of the utilities companies were known to have been operating in the area, and to have been targeting older people living on their own. Verbal logical reasoning tests Stephen Pimblett had a comprehensive home contents insurance policy which covered him against losses by accidental damage, fire and theft. Mr Pimblett had a large garden, which was surrounded by tall hedges and included many bushes and a number of fruit trees. The autumn weather had been very windy causing the trees to shed their leaves. Mr Pimblett preferred to pay for everything by cash and had a reputation for keeping substantial sums of money hidden in the house. Mr Pimblett was in good health but his family was concerned that he was becoming a bit forgetful and had a habit of falling asleep in an armchair while sitting watching television.
hypothesis: The two men that called at Mr Pimbletts house and offered to clear up the fallen leaves from his driveway were part of a gang of confidence tricksters known to have been operating in the area.