One of the men called at the 85-year-old woman's home in Greenway, Twickenham, claiming that a water pipe had been cut and her water might be contaminated. The woman initially refused to allow him in to her home but the man persisted and she eventually ushered him into the kitchen.

While he was in the house his accomplice entered through the open front door and stole £125 from the victim's handbag.

Witnesses saw the two men outside the road at 4.30pm on Thursday, May 11.