PENSIONERS have been warned to watch out for bogus callers after an elderly Winsford woman was robbed in her home.

The distraction burglary took place last Thursday afternoon, when a man called at the Queensway home of a 76-year-old woman.

After knocking on the woman's door, the man told her that he had come to check her heating. He was then let into the house and left unattended.

When the woman returned she found that the man had gone and that her red purse, containing £20, had been stolen.

The man is described as being white, 6ft tall, of a slim build and aged in his 20s. He had blond, short hair, wore trainers, jeans and a dark blue jumper, and spoke quickly.

Police spokesman Sgt Nigel Wenham said that residents, especially pensioners, should be wary of anyone calling at their home.

He added: "It is important that people should check the identity of callers before allowing them into their home.

"All workers from the various utilities carry some form of identification and this should always be checked."

Distraction burglaries, involving people posing as officials from various companies, are a growing problem across the county.

As well as several such thefts in the Winsford and Middlewich area, there have been recent incidents in Frodsham and Congleton, the latter involving two men with Irish accents who said they had come to check the water supply.

Sgt Wenham added: "Basically, our advice to residents is don't let anyone into your home unless you are 100 per cent happy about their identity."

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