A 95-year-old woman was today still in shock after a man posing as a policeman stole her engagement ring, cash box and pension - on what would have been her wedding anniversary.

The elderly woman was in her Leigh home on Friday morning when the thief called, claiming to be plain-clothed police officer.

He showed her what appeared to be an identity card and she invited him in.

The woman, who does not want to be named, said she still felt sick when she thought about what had happened.

The robber asked her where she kept her money and jewellery as he wanted to make sure it was safe.

The brazen thief even warned her there was a burglar in the area as she handed over her most valuable possessions.

The woman's son, Edward Woods, said: "The man was obviously very plausible and mum showed him where she kept her cash box and where she put money to pay the bills with.

"She also told him where she kept her rings and her pension."

The man put all the valuable items in the cash box and told the woman he would put them in the larder where no one would look. The woman, who has to use a zimmer frame to get around, could not follow him and he left the house with the box under his coat.

Mr Woods said: "It is despicable. My mum has been physically sick since the burglary and she has not eaten. He even took her engagement ring which she only wore on special occasions.

"It was bought in the 1920s and was probably worth £1,500 but things like that are irreplaceable. He also made off with my sister's ring. She died six years ago and mum had kept the ring as a momento."

Edward left his Westcliff home and moved in with his mother in February after she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

He shops for her and sorts out her pension, but now he is afraid to leave her alone in the house.

He said: "If I go out I make sure one of the neighbours comes round to sit with her. After what has happened I am too scared to let her stay in the house.

"She has cataracts and cannot see very well which was probably why the burglar

By ISABELGOMPERTZ

and JAMES TAYLOR

found it so easy to con her.

"The only thing I am grateful for is that because she believed him he did not have to hurt her."

The man made off with goods worth around £3,000, £800 of which was cash.

He is described as white, about 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall, of medium build and in his late 20s. He had a local accent.

Investigating officer Det Con Paul Chambers said police were linking the burglary with two other incidents

Just an hour before a man called at the home of a pensioner in Stambridge Road, Stambridge also claiming to be a policeman.

But she refused him entry and called the police by which time he had fled.

On Thursday morning the same man called at a house in Hamstel Road in Southend claiming to be a policeman. But again the homeowner refused him entry and called police.

Leigh police can be contacted on 01702 471212.

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