Two elderly women have been tricked out of cash by a Chelmsford doorstep caller who said that he had carried out work on their roofs.

Both crimes were committed on Sunday afternoon between 2.30 and 3.00.

The first was in Nalla Gardens, when the trickster spoke to a woman in her 80s, saying that he had repaired her roof. She paid him £10.

Then he pushed past her and stole two purses and cash, worth a total of about £100.

Around 3pm, he was in Pentland Avenue, again conning an elderly woman. The story was the same. He had worked on her roof, he said, and apparently showed her where a repair had been completed. He was again paid £10.

Dc Paul Kirk, of Chelmsford CID, said that both women had been left shocked by the incidents.

He described the trickster as aged between 40 and 50, stocky, about 5ft 10 in tall and clean-shaven. He was wearing a blue anorak.

Dc Kirk appealed to anyone who might have seen himin the areas on Sunday afternoon to contact police on Chelmsford 491212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Police are still hunting a raider who brandished a crowbar when he was disturbed during a burglary in Curzon Way, Chelmer Village, last Monday afternoon.

He is described as aged between 35 and 40, about 5ft 8in tall, with short, greying hair, a thin face, small, dark eyes and white protruding teeth.

He was wearing a thick blue top with three white stripes on the sleeves.

Again, police would like to hear from anyone who recognises the description.

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