An 80-year-old pensioner was burgled by teenagers pretending to look for a cat.
The youths fooled the woman into thinking the missing pet was in her garden in Halstead Road, Aldham.
While one was searching the undergrowth, the other smashed his way through a downstairs window and raided her front room.
The woman called police at 5.30pm on Tuesday after one of the youths refused to budge.
- Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
- More in today's Gazette
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