POLICE are warning people to be vigilant after a woman in her 80s was tricked into letting a bogus telephone engineer into her home.

The man claiming to be from British Telecom called at the elderly woman's home in the Hurcott Road area of Kidderminster, at around 11am on Friday.

She let him in and he examined her telephone.

He then had a look round all the rooms in her house and said he would need to come back a couple of hours later.

But the man did not return and the woman realised that the offender had stolen cash from her.

The offender is described as a white man between 35 and 40-years-old and 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall. He was wearing a green top with dark-coloured trousers.

PC Adrian Bartlett from Kidderminster police said: "This incident has really shaken the victim and we would appeal to anyone with information to give us a call.

"We would also urge those with elderly neighbours or family members to encourage them to use door viewers and chains and to be extra cautious regarding callers without a prior appointment.

"They should ask for proof of identity as genuine callers will not mind this at all."

Anyone with information can contact PC Bartlett on 08457 444 888 or can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.