DETECTIVES have warned elderly people to be on their guard after a thief posing as a police officer tricked his way into a woman’s home in Harlow.

The incident happened at Hare Street Springs, at about 5.15pm on Thursday June 5.

The trickster stole a purse containing £150 from the victim, who is aged in her 80s.

He knocked at the front door, said he was a police officer and claimed that a suspect had been seen in the woman’s back garden.

He was shown through to the back door and pretended to search the garden. He then said he would check all the windows. He also asked the victim to check her valuables and purse.

He then asked the woman to go to her back door and while she was distracted he grabbed the purse and ran out of the house through the front door.

The man was white, about 5ft 8in tall and aged in his 20s or 30s. He was wearing a tan-coloured T-shirt, blue jeans and a black waistcoat with high visibility stripes.

DI Stephen Ellis said: “This was an appalling crime by a thief who posed as a police officer to gain the trust of an elderly woman and then tricked her out of a large sum of money.

“If anyone calls at your home claiming to be a police officer always ask for ID and if in in doubt, phone the police non-emergency number 101 to check the person’s name before allowing entry to your home.

“We are appealing for information about this man and extra patrols are being carried out in the area.”

Anyone with information about the suspect should call Harlow CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.