A 91-year-old blind woman was conned in her own home as an evil thief posing as a water board official stole £200.The crime occurred between 3pm and 5.

A 91-year-old blind woman was conned in her own home as an evil thief posing as a water board official stole £200.

The crime occurred between 3pm and 5.30pm yesterday, at the home of the pensioner in Renfrew Road, Ipswich.

And Suffolk Police have today revealed a string of bogus burglaries that took place across the east of the county yesterday afternoon.

Although police are not linking the crimes, there are similarities between them, with the elderly being targeted by a slim, dark haired man posing as being from the water board.

However, due to the woman's disability, there is no description of the offender in Renfrew Road.

The first incident took place in Beccles between noon and 12.30pm. A bogus water board official searched the bedroom of a 77-year-old woman although nothing was stolen.

He is described as white, slim, around 5ft 7ins tall, aged 20 to 25 years old, clean shaven, with short cropped hair that was brown and gelled. He had a "posh sounding voice" and wore a white long-sleeved shirt and a brown waistcoat.

In Lowestoft at 2pm a man posed as a water board official and stole £85 cash from a 92-year-old woman in Stradbroke Road.

He is described as white, aged 20 to 30-years-old, with short tidy black hair and wearing a navy jacket.

An 85-year-old woman was then targeted in Woodbridge, around 4.30pm. Again the bogus caller posed as a water board official, but this time left when he saw there was another person in the house. Nothing was stolen.

He is described as white, aged in his early 20s, around 5ft 9ins tall, with short dark hair, and wearing a white shirt.

A second, older man was with the offender.

Suffolk Police spokeswoman Anna Woolnough said today: "It is too early in the investigation to link these crimes but obviously there are obvious similarities in the description of the offender.

"The people who commit these crimes have no conscience, targeting the elderly and the vulnerable. We would appeal for anyone with information to contact us immediately on 01473 613500."

She added: "We would also issue this advice against bogus callers: If you are in doubt, keep them out."

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Police are also investigating an attack in Sudbury where a man leapt out of a car and grabbed the handbag of an 81-year-old woman.

The incident occurred between 3.30pm and 4.45pm on Priory Road yesterday. The assailant is described as white, aged 30 to 40-years-old, around 6ft tall, of thin build, and was wearing a white baseball cap, a grey waistcoat and matching trousers, and possibly trainers.

The woman who was driving the car had fair hair and sharp features, and was wearing a headscarf. The car is described as an old, white medium-sized vehicle.

Anyone with information should call 01473 613500.