COMMUNITY leaders have warned those living alone not to answer the door to strangers after thieves pretending to be police officers forced their way into a pensioner's home.

The two men first persuaded the 81-year-old man to open the door to his home in Knights Road, Braintree, then barged in to steal a bag containing a coin collection.

Ward councillor Mary Cunningham was herself a victim of crime when three men masked men burst into her home in Queenborough Lane and stole cash during a 40- minute ordeal in February.

She said: “I actually don’t know if it was worse. With ours, at least they wore masks. To pose as police officers is quite frankly the most despicable thing imaginable.

“It’s just so low to do that to an elderly gentleman. I feel heartbroken for him, I really do."

The charity Age UK advises pensioners to “lock, stop, chain, check” every time they answer the door.

“No cold caller” signs are available to download at actionfraud.police.uk

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.