A quick-thinking pensioner closed the door on a bogus woman caller who started to share her marriage problems and then said the house needed new guttering.
The incident happened at Lawns Close, East Mersea, Colchester, Thursday morning .
The elderly householder opened her door to find a woman on her doorstep who started to talk about her marriage.
Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "The caller started to give the pensioner a story about having domestic problems and said how her husband had left her.
"In the middle of the story, she looked up and told the pensioner her guttering needed repairing.
"Fortunately the pensioner had heeded warnings about not letting these kind of people through the door and she shut it on her."
Det Sgt Napier reminded people to be on their guard against bogus callers.
The woman was described as tall, heavy set and wearing a white top and black skirt.
She drove away in a dark blue vehicle.
Anyone with any information should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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