A MAN posing as a water board official conned an 85-year-old pensioner into letting him into her home and then stole a substantial amount of cash from her purse.

The bogus caller, who is being hunted by detectives, may also have tried to trick another pensioner into letting him into her home.

The conman knocked on the door of the pensioner's house in Eastcourt Lane, Gilllingham, on Thursday, January 5.

The thief, who turned up between 12.50pm and 1pm, claimed he had laid a paving slab on top of the water main and needed to come in to check the water supply.

He went into the kitchen with the pensioner, before going into the lounge and upstairs alone saying he had to check the water.

While he was upstairs the woman went into her lounge and noticed a drawer had been left open.

She called out to the man who left via the front door, it was then she discovered the cash had been taken from her purse.

The conman is between 18 and 22, about 5ft 4in and of slim build.

He also has dark brown hair and pale complexion and was wearing a dark bomber jacket and blue jeans.

Earlier the same day, between 11.50am and noon, detectives think the same man knocked on a door at Russell Court, Chatham.

This time an 83-year-old woman opened her door and the man claimed to again be from water board, claiming there had been a leak and he needed her to turn the water pressure down.

This pensioner became suspicious, closed her front door and called the police, giving a similar description to the one above.

Det Con Bev Dyer is appealing for help in catching the man and would also like to stress water board officials should not just knock on the door without prior warning asking for access to your premises.

If they need to come in to carry out work you should have been informed in advance.

She said: “If anyone posing as an official tries to gain entry to your house, just close the door and call the police.

“Anyone who may have seen something or who may have information in connection with this incident is asked to contact me at Rochester on 01634 884136.

Alternatively if you want to give information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

All calls to Crimestoppers are free and are treated in the strictest of confidence.