Men pretending to be police officers have targeted the homes of elderly women on two occasions in a week.

Police in Croydon are calling for witnesses after men claiming to be police tricked their way into the home of a woman in her 80’s on Sutherland Road, Croydon at 11.40am Monday November 21 but fled when a neighbour called to the home.

The second incident took place on Thursday November 24 at 6.15pm.

A pair of men tried to get into the home of a woman in her 70’s in Bishops Park Road, Norbury but she refused and closed the door on them.

The first incidence the men are described being smartly dressed, white, both 6ft, one in his 30s one in his 20s.

In the second a suspect is described as a white man in his 40s, about 6ft of solid build and wearing a blue jacket.

Det Inspector Neal Burton, Croydon Burglary Squad, said: “These are two very similar incidents, and although nothing was taken in either case, we are urging anyone who may have seen people matching the descriptions in the two areas to contact police to help us with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact Croydon's Burglary Squad on 020 8649 1336 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.