A doorstep caller, this time posing as a water worker, has again tricked an elderly woman in mid-Essex.

This time, the victim was a 90-year-old and the bogus official escaped with £145.

Pensioners are now regularly becoming victims of con men.

In the latest crime, in Pyms Road, Galleywood, Chelmsford, last week, a skinny trickster with cropped hair and wearing a boiler suit claimed to be a water worker.

Inspector Stuart Ashton, of Chelmsford police, said that the bogus official asked the pensioner to turn on the upstairs taps, which she did. While she was being helpful, and out of the way, the thief searched, found the cash and left the house before the victim realised that he had gone.

Insp Ashton said: "This was a despicable crime on an elderly lady."

He appealed for witnesses who might have seen the trickster around 10.55am on Thursday to contact Chelmsford CID on 491212, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Insp Ashton asked anyone who might be visited by a bogus official to immediately dial 999.

"Please do not let anyone in unless they have identification," he said. "If you are in the slightest doubt, don't let the caller in and try to take the registration number of a vehicle they are driving."

The Pyms Road trickster is aged about 30, about 5ft 10in tall, and skinny with cropped hair. He was wearing blue overalls.

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