A BRAVE pensioner hit a bogus police officer with her walking stick before locking herself in the porch while he ransacked her home.

The 96-year-old woman's ordeal began as she was watching television in her home, in Winston Avenue, Tadley, just after 9pm on Wednesday.

She heard a noise at the front of her house, went to investigate and found the man, who had got in through a window, standing in her hallway.

The burglar tried to convince the woman he was a police officer by checking her windows, but she refused to believe him and told him to leave.

When the man refused to go, the pensioner - whose name has not been released by police - hit him with her walking stick and retreated to her rear porch, where she locked herself in until he had left.

The burglar, described as white, around 25 and who was wearing a blue jacket and a blue hat, then searched the house before stealing money from the woman's handbag.

He was later seen walking from Winston Avenue down Fairlawn Road.

Detective Constable Chris Mallet, from Basingstoke CID, said: "This man has targeted the home of a vulnerable older woman and she has bravely challenged him.

"Police officers would not try to gain entry to a house without identifying themselves to the homeowner, and would always have the appropriate identification.

"We would ask all residents to be cautious when opening the door to strangers and encourage that you ask for identification. If the caller is genuine, they will not mind.

"I would also ask residents who live in a neighbourhood where you have vulnerable or elderly neighbours to be on the look-out for any suspicious activity."

Anyone with information about the burglary is urged to contact Basingstoke police on 0845 045 45 45.