A KINDLY widow who let youngsters into her home for a drink, only to discover later they had stolen cash from her, will be among the first in the district to get a free doorway device reminding her not to let strangers in.

The 79-year-old, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, let the thirsty children - thought to be as young as ten - into her home out of the goodness of her heart.

She later found that £10 had disappeared from the hallway table at her home in Kidderminster.

"I couldn't believe children would do that to me. I am on my own and they would have known I had nobody else there." Kidderminster south west beat manager Jim Harris with one of the security alarms.

She will be among the first 100 potential victims in the district to get a free hi-tech doorway reminder device as part of the Shuttle/Times and News-backed "Keep 'Em Out" campaign, designed to deter distraction raiders.

District police hope to distribute another 400 or so by the end of the year - making the district one of the most "bogus caller-aware" in the country.

And it is hoped news about the campaign will reach the organised travelling gangs behind many similar incidents - and deter them from the area.

We teamed up with West Mercia Police in Kidderminster, Worcestershire Social Services, Age Concern, Neighbourhood Watch and other district agencies involved with older folk, to launch the campaign in January.

The police have since secured Home Office funding for 500 devices, while social services chiefs have funded another 40.

Campaign coordinator Paul Hawkins, commissioned by social services, said the campaign had been very well received by older people living alone.

"The level of awareness has been raised dramatically. We have also seen people who have been encouraged to speak up about incidents which had previously gone unreported."

An information roadshow about the problem, including a short drama which has been seen at lunch clubs around the district, is now going out to another 26 organisations and clubs involved with older people.

Key to the campaign's long-term success is in distributing the doorway reminder devices to potential victims.

Each device is fitted near the main doorway. When the householder approaches the door a beam of light from the device is broken, setting off a pre-recorded message.

The message, usually recorded by a relative or friend, will include basic advice about what to do when answering the door.

Potential victims identified through the roadshows who cannot afford to pay will have the devices fitted free. Anyone who can afford to buy one of the devices, which cost in the region of £15, should contact Sgt Jeff Hill at Kidderminster Police.