A CALLOUS thief tricked his way into a vulnerable pensioner's Corringham home before raiding her bedroom and making off with her handbag and some cash.

At around 1.30pm last Friday - just two days after Christmas - the conman knocked on the door of the woman’s bungalow in Lampits Hill Avenue and told her he needed to turn the water off in her home as a property down the road was flooded.

The woman, in her seventies, obliged and took the man through to the kitchen.

But when the thief instructed her to check the taps in the bathroom, he went to her bedroom, pocketed some cash and made off with her handbag, driving away in a gold Mercedes.

Dc Suzanne O’Neill, investigating the incident, said: “This man is somebody’s partner, son, brother or potentially father and so we urge them to contact us with his name. We want him off the streets so that he doesn’t have a chance to target another elderly, vulnerable person.

“We also hope that sightings of his distinctive car will trigger people into calling us with its location.”

Police have released an efit of the man, is described as white, aged in his late 20s, is approximately 5ft 4ins tall and spoke with an Irish accent.

Anyone with information in connection with this burglary is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101.