A 96-year-old woman has become the latest victim as bogus callers blitz Colchester.

The number of conmen trying to steal from people in the town has shot up this week, prompting a warning from police to be on guard for the cruel criminals.

In the most recent report, two men called at the elderly victim's home in De Vere Road and one said he was looking for somebody named Peacock.

While he was talking with the woman, his accomplice is thought to have got into her home through french doors at the back and searched for valuables.

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester CID, said: "We don't know if anything was stolen. We'll be trying to establish that today."

He said at the moment, the crime was not being linked to others in the town on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, there were at least three reports of possible bogus callers.

Anyone with information about suspicious doorstep callers should call Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Thursday November 27, 2003

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