A WOMAN who has been made prisoner in her own home, told her traumatic story to the Citizen this week - as police launch a new initiative to protect the elderly and vulnerable.

The 76-year-old widow fell prey to a malicious caller when she answered her door to a man pretending to be a workman.

"He claimed a child had thrown one of his tools in my back garden," she said: "He asked if he could look for it."

But while the woman - who is too afraid to be named - went outside with him, his mate went straight into her living room and grabbed her purse containing £50.

The woman, who suffers from emphysema, broke down: "No one has ever hurt me like this," she wept: "I'm sure they wouldn't do it if they knew how much it hurts."

Now she can't sleep, she's afraid to be alone in her own home and her breathing condition has worsened.

"If I had looked up and seen him, he might have coshed me," she shivered.

In a move to prevent others falling prey to malicious callers pretending to be legitimate visitors, the Citizen has linked with police to launch Doorstep Challenge.

Crime prevention officer Pc Andy Edwards explained: "We want people to use the challenge every time they answer the door - have a strong chain fitted, use it and always asking for ID. People should not be afraid to turn away callers."

He said at least one elderly person a week was known to fall prey to conmen, but the real figure was probably much higher.

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