POLICE are appealing for information after an elderly man was targeted in a robbery in Blackburn.

At about 7pm yesterday (Sunday, November 2nd) the 85-year-old victim was at home in Rawsthorne Street when two men knocked at the door.

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They pushed the victim inside the property and into the front room. They demanded to know where his valuables where and stole about £7,500 cash from a tin.

The victim had recently had repair work carried out on his house by three men driving a red Ford Transit van with ladders on top and was also approached by a another man on Saturday who said further work needed doing, which he turned down after challenging him for identification and being assisted by a neighbour.

On Saturday the man was described as white, in his forties, 5ft 5ins, stocky build, fair cropped hair and was wearing a yellow high visibility vest and jeans The men involved in yesterday’s incident are described as both white, 5ft 10ins and of medium build.

One was wearing dark blue clothing with a hat and the other a grey tracksuit with the hood up.

Police are treating the incidents as connected and want to appeal to anyone who may have information to get in contact.

Det Insp Nick Hodgeson, of East CID, said: “This is an extremely nasty crime where an elderly man has been targeted probably in the knowledge that there was cash in the house.

“The victim has been left shaken, but fortunately has not been seriously hurt. I would appeal for anyone who has any information to get in touch with us, in particular anyone in the area who may have been approached and asked about work being done on their property, or who has seen anyone in the area acting suspiciously.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 1227 of Sunday, November 2nd.