A PARTIALLY-sighted pensioner was knocked to the floor in his own home for just £20.

Now police are becoming increasingly concerned about rising violence used by doorstep fraudsters targeting Hampshire's pensioners.

In just three weeks conmen have preyed on Southampton's elderly in ten incidents, and officers are warning pensioners to be on their guard.

In the latest incident the 69-year-old victim was left shaken by the attack, by a man posing as a neighbour with water supply problems.

Police said the conman had tricked his way into the Southampton flat around 11.30pm.

Once inside he reached into the pensioner's jacket and pushed him to the floor before ripping out his wallet containing £20 cash and cards.

The victim's jacket was torn in the struggle before the intruder fled from the flat in Bullar Road, Bitterne. Around an hour-and-a-half later one of the cards was found in Bitterne Triangle.

Detectives said the pensioner, who has not been named, suffers from vision problems and could not provide a detailed description.

The sickening robbery, which happened last Wednesday, is the latest in a spate of so-called distraction burglaries, in which thieves trick their way into people's homes.

More than ten have been recorded across Southampton in the last three weeks alone.

The same trick involving supposed water supply problems was used on at least two other occasions last week.

An elderly couple living in Poole Road, Itchen, were persuaded to turn on their taps by a man posing as an upstairs neighbour.

The pair only realised they had been conned when the woman's handbag was handed in to her daughter later that day, minus a purse.

Police said the conman was aged 23 to 35, 5ft 6in to 6ft tall, slim with short ginger hair.

An 85-year-old man living in Grange Road, Hedge End, also lost £80 cash to a bogus workman who called at his door.

Today police urged householders to check carefully before allowing anyone into their property.

Detective Sergeant Jim Park, of Hedge End CID, said: "These are particularly cowardly crimes targeted at some of the most vulnerable members of society.

"The older generation tends to be very trusting, but we would remind them about the importance of checking the identification of anyone who calls at their door.

"We are becoming concerned by the number of offences of this nature, particularly as several have involved violence."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bitterne CID on 01703 335444 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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