A police hunt is underway after an elderly woman was burgled by a man pretending to check whether she had coronavirus.
Detectives are investigating reports of a burglary in Brentwood in April, where a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman and told her he was there to check if she had Covid-19.
The occupant, a woman in her 90s, was approached by a man at her home in Shenfield Road at about 6pm on Thursday, April 23.
The man said he he was there to take her temperature and check on her well-being, so she allowed him to enter.
When she went into her kitchen, the man allegedly searched through her belongings. He then told the woman that two boys had come into the house looking for cash and then tried to persuade her to show him where she kept her money saying it was so he could check it hadn't been stolen.
The woman quickly realised what the man was trying to do and told him to leave.
The man was described as white, of a skinny build with shortish brown hair and aged in his 40s.
Investigating officer DC Edward Gosling said: "We want to remind people to stay vigilant and be aware of criminals who are using concerns about coronavirus to take advantage of and target vulnerable people.
“They are very convincing and often carry fake identification, going to great lengths to try and gain access into your home.
"Thankfully on this occasion, nothing was stolen and no one was hurt.
"Our advice is to not let anyone into your home who you don’t know or are not expecting.
"If you do get an unexpected visitor, explain that you need to check who they are, close the door and make a call to the organisation they say they are working on behalf of.
"If they are genuine, they will understand your caution and will happily wait while you make that call to check."
Detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Shenfield Road around 6pm on April 23 and witnessed any suspicious behaviour or a man matching the above description, to get in touch.
Please call Brentwood CID on 101, quoting reference 42/59095/20.
Information can also be given completely anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
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