POLICE have issued a warning for householders to be on their guard after an 84-year-old partially blind woman had her savings and family heirlooms stolen by bogus callers.

The heartless thieves targeted the elderly woman, who lives in Glusburn, not once, but twice.

On the first occasion, on Friday June 19, two men called at her house claiming there was something wrong with her roof.

A police spokesman told the Herald that the woman allowed the men into her home, and while one was looking for a "so-called" leak in the roof, the other stole a quantity of money from out of a kitchen drawer.

Then, on Sunday, two men who pretended to be police officers following up the earlier crime conned the woman out of her family heirlooms.

The conmen turned up at her house at about 1.30pm and pressured the lady into handing over her silver in connection with the previous crime.

All the items she handed over were antiques and some were irreplaceable family heirlooms.

They included a solid silver tea service, a silver fish knife and fork, two silver mugs, a condiment set and sugar basin.

Police believe both incidents are connected and could have been carried out by the same two men.

The first man is described as white, five feet eight inches tall, well built and in his forties wearing a light coloured shirt.

The second suspect is described as white, five feet five inches tall, of slim build, with short straight hair and wearing a dark coloured jacket.

This second man is believed to be younger than the first.

Community safety officer Alan Atkins told the Herald that genuine callers would normally make an appointment first, and would also carry some kind of identification which included a photograph.

He added that people should always have a security chain on the door before answering it and should not let anyone into the house, no matter what they might say.

He added: "If people are unsure they can always ask for a telephone number for the caller's base and then check in the telephone book before ringing and checking.

"If they still have doubts they should call the police straight away so they can get there immediately before the caller disappears.

"They should also try to remember a full description of the caller."

Anyone with information about the two thefts, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in Bungalow Road, Glusburn, should contact Skipton police on 01756 793377.

l Police also warned this week of door-to-door builders who are approaching elderly people in the Cowling area for work and quoting excessive prices.

Chief Insp Ron Johnson said: "These builders have been asking up to £900 just for one day's work and for the few materials involved."

He added: "Our advice would be to never accept work on the door step before getting other quotes to compare it with."

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