POLICE have released this efit image of a suspected thief, believed to have tricked his way into the home of an elderly woman in Selby.

The man claimed to be from the water board when he called at the home of the pensioner in D’Arcy Road and said he needed to check inside her home.

He asked the victim to turn on the taps in the bathroom and keep an eye on them, then asked her to empty some bowls from under the sink, but when he left, she discovered an amount of cash had been taken.

Investigating officer DC Carol Kirk, of Selby CID, said: “This burglary has left the victim considerably shaken up and she is finding it hard to cope with what happened. I am appealing to members of the public to help us catch this man before he targets any more elderly people.

“Anyone who knows anything or recognises the man from the efit, please contact us as a matter of urgency.

“Targeting elderly people in this way is one the most deplorable and cowardly crimes we have to deal with. Elderly people are often very trusting and these criminals prey on this, taking advantage of their polite and trusting nature.”

The suspect is described as white, aged in his mid-thirties, approximately 5ft 6ins tall. He is of stocky build with broad shoulders with a round, chubby face and dark collar-length hair.

He was wearing a blue checked shirt or jacket at the time of the offence at around 3pm on Wednesday, February 29.

DC Kirk said residents should not allow people they do not know or are not expecting, into their homes. If residents are unsure, they should not answer the door.

She also urged relatives and neighbours of elderly people to “convince them that it is not impolite to refuse to allow anyone into their home”.

Police ask anyone who recognises the man or saw someone matching his description in the D’Arcy Road area last Wednesday to phone Selby CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.