Anger as bogus callers target pensioner
A FRIGHTENED female pensioner has spoken of her terror after two men forced their way into her sheltered accommodation home and demanded cash.Rose Levine, 92, has relieved the terrifying moments when the men, claiming to be from social services, searched her home for money before leaving the property empty-handed after she raised the alarm.
A FRIGHTENED female pensioner has spoken of her terror after two men forced their way into her sheltered accommodation home and demanded cash.
Rose Levine, 92, has relieved the terrifying moments when the men, claiming to be from social services, searched her home for money before leaving the property empty-handed after she raised the alarm.
Mrs Levine, whose actions were praised by police, said: "I am not normally a nervous person but I was terrified.
"It was kind of unexpected as I was just getting my tea ready. The two men pushed past me and I was really worried.
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"One of the men was going round my home looking for money and when they asked for my cheque book, I knew something was wrong – I was very lucky."
The quick-thinking pensioner raised the alarm in her sheltered housing unit in Sudbury and the men quickly left the building.
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She added: "You just don't expect this sort of thing to happen. I was expecting it to be my neighbour at the door.
"I would tell other elderly residents to keep their doors closed but you don't want to become a prisoner in your own home."
Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident, which took place at about 5.15pm on Friday .
Investigating office DC John Gibbens said: "We would always advise the elderly to check the identification of an individual before allowing them into their homes.
"Thankfully in this situation, as soon as the lady became concerned she called for assistance which prompted the men to leave."
One of the men has been described as white, aged about 40 years old, 5ft 9ins tall with short fair hair and medium build, wearing a grey jumper. There is no description of the second man.
A spokesman for Babergh District Council, who run the sheltered housing scheme, said: "Babergh is disgusted that anyone would try to take advantage of any of our sheltered housing residents.
"We have recently upgraded our security arrangements across all of our schemes, but they are ultimately pleasant environments where residents can live as independently as they are able and not prisons and the unscrupulous will, sadly, try and take advantage."
Anyone with information about the incident should contact DC Gibbens on 01284 774300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
