The Linstead police in St Catherine are searching for a wheelchair-bound man who has reportedly been swindling people out of hundreds of thousand of dollars.

In his last reported act of crime, the man is alleged to have tricked a woman into buying a piece of land, that was not his, for $450,000.

Police said the disabled man convinced the victim by presenting a copy of the registered title of the land. The title had a fictitious name, the police said.

It is understood that the document bore the stamp of a Justice of the Peace and other approved features. "This man is a real criminal who, although confined to a wheelchair, has proven to be very elusive," a policeman told The Star, adding that several attempts have been made to catch him.

It was revealed that the man often advertised containers, land and other items for sale. When persons turned up for viewing, some were robbed while others were just tricked of their money.

The police have since warned people to seek their intervention before responding to similar advertisements.