A bogus policeman knocked down, robbed and threatened to kill an 83-year-old woman in her own home, leaving her with a broken hip, in a con trick devised to feed his drug habit, police said this week.

The audacious and violent burglary, which took place in Caister Road, Balham, left the victim needing surgery for the fracture, and a prolonged stay in hospital.

Wandsworth police said it marked an alarming development as the first local "artifice" burglary in which the suspect had claimed to be a police officer to gain entry to someone's home.

It was followed by a similar incident in Southfields just 10 days later.

The first victim was preparing for bed at 10.45pm on January 11 when the white, male suspect knocked, claiming to be investigating a robbery next door.

When the woman, who lives alone, unchained her door to examine his ID, the burglar knocked her to the floor. When she screamed, the man covered her mouth and threatened to kill her, telling her he wanted money for drugs and claiming he had a "mate" downstairs though police believe he operated alone.

He donned the woman's mauve woollen hat to mask his features and wrapped her scarf around his hands to avoid leaving fingerprints.

After stealing credit cards and £80 in cash, the suspect described as aged 30, 5ft 9in, of medium build with a "gruff" London accent handed his victim the mobile alarm buzzer she was trying to reach and offered to stay until the ambulance arrived. But he left the scene before police who forced entry to the flat arrived.

The second victim was another woman in her 80s, woken by a man banging on her window in Longstaff Crescent, SW18, on January 21 at 6.30pm, shouting for her to: "Please, please open the door."

The suspect claimed he was a policeman and said he needed to examine her home for fingerprints after seeing someone lean a ladder at the rear. The victim allowed him inside after he flashed a poor quality fake ID card.

The man tried to divert the woman's attention and said he needed to search upstairs, but when the woman adamantly refused permission he left the house.

The suspect described as white, 31, 5ft 7in, of stocky build with mousey, wavy hair and a London accent left empty-handed.

Police issued a warning to householders that they should always ask callers for ID, adding that those claiming to represent utility companies should know relevant account numbers as well as holding ID. If in doubt, they advised, always call 999.

Anyone with information on these incidents should call Wandsworth Burglary Squad on 020 8870 9011.

January 31, 2003 11:31