The homes of nine elderly people in the Maldon area were targeted by con men in one day.
Many of the incidents, which all happened last Wednesday, are being linked.
In three cases, a burglar imitated a police officer, and Maldon police crime reduction officer Ray Stannard said: "I don't want to frighten elderly people but, certainly in the two and a half years I have been back with the force, there has not been a run of burglaries like this."
In the first incident, an 81-year-old man was at home in Chelmsford Road, Purleigh, when a burglar broke in around 6.15pm.
When discovered, he said that the man's house had been broken into and that he had the burglar outside.
He told him to check his money and, while the man was doing so, he stole £600.
Burglars also struck in Eastern Road, Burnham and in Woodham Ferrers.
A con man also targeted neighbours in Shakespeare Drive, Maldon, pretending to be a workman and, later, a water official stealing £50 and a purse.
In the sixth incident, a mobile home owned by an 80-year-old in East Avenue, River View Park, Althorne, was burgled just before 6.30pm, but the burglar left empty handed.
Between 5pm and 6.30pm, someone broke into an elderly person's bungalow in Parkers Court, Waterside, Bradwell, but nothing was stolen.The eighth and ninth incidents happened in South Woodham Ferrers and are being linked.
Anyone with information should call Maldon police station on 01621 852255.
Published Thursday, December 12, 2002
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