Raiders pose as gas board engineers

COWARDLY conmen posing as gas board engineers have stolen cash from an elderly woman.

Police are warning residents to be on their guard against similar distraction burglaries following the incident, which occurred at about 3pm on Wednesday.

A man knocked on the door of the 81-year old woman’s home, in Cheyney Street, Steeple Morden, claiming to be from the gas board. He said there had been an explosion in the village and and he needed to check her water pipes.

The unsuspecting woman led him in and was asked to fill up things with water because the supply was going to be turned off to prevent contamination.

Two other men then entered the house and offered to fix a leak in the woman’s ceiling. They left saying they would return, but did not, and it was then that the victim discovered a cash box full of money had been taken.

One of the men was described as white, in his 20s, 5’5”, with brown curly hair, a “podgy” face and a plump red cheeks. He wore a khaki jacket.

Detective Sergeant John Yore said: “I am appealing for anyone with information about this cowardly crime to come forward.

“I would particularly like to speak to anyone who saw a red estate car in the area at the time or recognises the person described.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Yore on 0345 456 456 4, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.