CALLOUS burglars stole £1,000 from a wheelchair-bound pensioner after tricking their way into her home by offering to do her shopping.

Two men called at the home of a 71-year-old woman in Southchurch Road, Southend, on Sunday night.

They initially offered to go to the shop to buy her groceries but the woman refused. Although the men left, they later returned with a carrier bag full of goods from Tesco.

Chief Insp Scott Cannon, Southend district commander, said: “She thinks she may have seen the males before. It is quite nasty because she is disabled and in a wheelchair.

“They have exploited a vulnerable, elderly woman. They have seen she lives on her own and targeted her.”

Mr Cannon said the incident started at about 8.20pm and involved two attempts to gain entry to the house.

He said: “Two males knock at her door trying to sell her items. They ask if she wants anything from the shop. She says no but they say they will be back in five minutes. They go to Tesco to purchase items before returning to her address.

“They come back with a bag of ham, cheese and other groceries and offer to sell them to her for £20. She started to become afraid of them. One of them then asked for a cigarette and followed her into the kitchen. The other male has then gone into her living room and taken a purse out of her handbag.

“That had £1,000 in it and all of her bank cards.”

Mr Cannon said it is possible the men live in the area because they seemed familiar to the victim.

Both men were described as being in their 30s. One was described as fat, white and with a “bald head”. The other man was described as skinny, Indian and with a “full head of hair”.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 101.