Police are hunting a man who conned his way into the home of two elderly women claiming he was a distant relative.

The man called at the house in London Road, Rayleigh, at about 2pm on February 5 and engaged the pensioners in conversation before discovering that they were expecting a visit from family members later that afternoon.

He conned his way into the house by claiming he was a relative they had not seen in many years and while they were distracted he searched a number of rooms.

The man fled empty-handed when the women, who are aged 71 and 87 and are not related to each other, told him their visitors would be arriving immediately.

Det Con Alan Pritchard, of Rayleigh police, said: "He stole nothing but the elderly women are obviously shocked but otherwise not hurt."

The man was white, of medium build and 5ft 10in tall. He had a local accent and was described as being casually dressed.

He had dark, short hair and was aged between 20 and 23.

Rayleigh police can be contacted no 01268 775533.

Impression of trickster

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