THE JOURNAL is backing a Police vow to stamp out a nasty series of cowardly robberies inflicted on lone pensioners in their homes.

And following the latest in a despicable string of attacks on the elderly in which a robber threatened to kill an 82 year-old woman we are urging anyone with information to examine their conscience and SHOP THE SCUM.

Yesterday morning an 82 year-old woman awoke at 3.30am to find a balaclava-clad figure in her home in a sheltered accommodation complex off St Helens Road on the outskirts of Leigh town centre.

The intruder forced her to the ground, put his hand over her mouth, and demanded money. He told her that if she did not comply he would kill her.

The man, who wore a dark top and dark, woolly gloves, stole a quantity of cash and jewellery from the terrified victim and fled after stuffing it into a bag he had also stolen from her.

It was the third copycat incident within three days.

The first harrowing incident occurred at around 9.30pm on Sunday. The victim was a 78-year-old disabled man was at home in Thornton Close within a Council sheltered accommodation complex at Mosley Common. Determined robbers forced his front door, entered his bungalow and subjected him to a terrifying and humiliating ordeal.

The immobile victim could do nothing but watch in horror as one of the raiders searched cupboards and drawers looking for cash.

The callous duo escaped with a small quantity of cash and some personal belongings including a watch and a cheque book.

One of the robbers is described as white man, in his 20s, slimly built and approximately 5ft 9ins tall. He wore a woollen bob hat with a multi coloured hooped design.

The second raid happened at tea-time on Monday when a 78-year-old man was confronted by two balaclava-clad men at his home in another sheltered block at Lancaster Court, off Chapel Street in Leigh.

The men, both white, had got in through an insecure ground floor window. They demanded cash and left with a substantial amount, heading towards Butts Bridge .

Condemning the attacks Detective Sergeant Phil Ratcliffe of Leigh CID said: "The fact that the people committing these crimes know they are preying on elderly people living alone makes the attacks all the more cowardly. They are unscrupulous people with no feelings for the distress and trauma they are causing their victims.

"We are set on catching these callous thieves and intensive enquiries are taking place in the areas concerned. We need to stamp out this nasty type of crime for good."

Community leaders have also denounced the robbers.

Leigh East councillor Brian Jarvis said: "It's deplorable that pensioners are not even safe in sheltered accommodation. I can assure residents of Lancaster Court that the council will be looking into the security there. "But it must be said that you can turn properties into fortresses and if thieves want to get in they still will. We are losing a battle out there and we need to get to grips with it.

"Words fail me to describe people like this. I hope they are caught and given a stiff sentence."

And Tyldesley East councillor Stephen Hellier said: "The terror experienced by these victims is probably impossible to imagine and I am appalled that someone would do this in an area where the residents are predominantly elderly people. When criminals are prepared to sink to such depths as this, we need to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to protect vulnerable residents.

"A wide range of agencies, including the council and Police, collaborate closely in partnership to address issues of crime and community safety through the local Twin Ward Community Risk Management Group and I intend to raise this incident as a matter of urgency at its next meeting."

Anyone with information on the robberies should contact Leigh Police on 0161 856 7254 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.