A FRAIL elderly woman was the victim of conmen who called at her house pretending to be looking for someone.Two men called at the home of a 96-year-old woman in De Vere Road, Colchester, saying they were looking for a man called Peacock.

A FRAIL elderly woman was the victim of conmen who called at her house pretending to be looking for someone.

Two men called at the home of a 96-year-old woman in De Vere Road, Colchester, saying they were looking for a man called Peacock.

While one of the conmen spoke to the woman, the other slipped past her and rifled through her belongings.

The incident happened between 6pm and 6.15pm on Wednesday. Police are not sure if anything was stolen.

The only description the woman give to police was that the two men looked like "something the cat dragged in".

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "The woman was just so old and frail the bogus callers just walked in and helped themselves. They didn't even use the pretence of being from the utilities."

The woman is now being looked after by her family.

On Tuesday an 86-year-old woman from Abbeygate House, St John's Green, Colchester, had several hundred pounds stolen by a bogus caller who claimed to be from the water board.

Two other pensioners were targeted by conmen on the town's Greenstead estate, but were not fooled by them and saw them off.

Det Sgt Napier said it was too early to say the latest incident was linked to Tuesday's crimes.

"It's a different area and a slightly different modus operandi but it's true to say we have had a sharp increase in this type of crime in the last week.

"It fits a pattern. When conmen come to town they stay a few days and move around. Sometimes there are two or three sets of people who may be loosely connected."

The bogus caller at Abbeygate House was 5ft 8ins, white, heavily built, and clean shaven. He wore dark trousers and was aged between 30 and 40.

One of the Greenstead would-be conmen was described as 5ft 5ins tall, slim, with dark hair brushed back. He wore a knee-length suede jacket. The other was 5ft 7ins, with dark hair, jeans and a beige top. One of the callers had an Irish accent.

Anyone with information which might help police with their enquiries should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555111.