A CONMAN posing as a police officer stole cash from an elderly woman after she left her door open.

The woman, who has not been named, left the front door to her home in Bath Street, Hereford, ajar while she fetched a key from her kitchen.

On her return she found a man standing inside the front door.

"He told the lady he was a police officer who was investigating a report of a disturbance and asked her to go upstairs to check," said a police spokeswoman.

"While she did this, the man stole a carrier bag containing a purse with a small amount of cash, two pairs of gloves and other personal items."

The clean-shaven conman is described as white, aged 20, of slim build and of medium height, and was wearing dark clothing. He had short brown hair.

Anyone with information on the burglary at 2pm on Thursday, December 20, should call Det Con Pauline Strong on 01432 276422, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.