DETECTIVES are hunting a PENSIONER who is conning the elderly in Bolton.

Officers interviewing victims of the trickster were stunned when they described the thief as a woman - in her late 60s or early 70s.

Two sisters both fell victim to the scam when the cheeky woman called at the same flat two days running at exactly the same time.

The elderly con-woman managed to get away with pension books from the two sisters by persuading them that she was working for the Department of Social Security and needed to take the books away for checks and amendments.

She struck first when the 80-year-old sister answered the door at the flat in Great Holme, Great Lever, at 8am on Tuesday.

Her 77-year-old sister went to the door at the same time a day later and had her pension book stolen.

Det Ch Insp Frank Raggett of Bolton CID said: "This is an extremely unusual crime indeed, to have an elderly offender preying on the elderly."

He added: "We have not ruled out the possibility that this could be someone younger who has gone to the trouble of dressing up. But whatever the case targeting old people like this is a very cruel crime."

The con-woman is described as white, in her late 60s or early 70s, stocky build, medium length dark curly hair, wearing dark clothing.

DCI Raggett added: "The DSS never send anyone round door to door asking for pension books. We cannot stress strongly enough that elderly people should never let any strangers in their house and always check their identities."

Anyone with information about the con-woman is asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 872 5050.

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