A second resident in Sutton has been tricked out of cash by men who claimed they were police officers, only five days after a similar incident.

Two men, who were dressed in police uniforms flashed fake ID, when they called at the first floor maisonette in London Road on July 18. They told the elderly resident, a 72-year-old woman, they were checking pensioners' cash after arresting a man for passing forged £20 notes at the local Post Office.

She allowed the two men into her home, who asked what cash she had in her property. When she only produced one £20 note, the men asked what other she money she had. She told them that her husband who dealt with all their finances, had been admitted to hospital in the last few days.

The men said that they had another police officer at his bedside telling police he had a lot of money in his bedroom at home. The woman then gave the men a further £100 from a bedside draw, but the men continued to search the property for more, walking away with around £600 in cash.

Both suspects are described as being white, aged around 40 and about 5ft 8in tall. One of them had a moustache.

On July 13 a similar incident occurred, when an 81-year-old woman had £1, 500 taken from her home in Shearing Drive, Carshalton after allowing two bogus police officers into her home who said they were checking forged notes.

Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Colin Baker said there were no current investigations in the borough into forged £20 notes or any other notes.

He said: “If anyone knocks pretending to be a police officer investigating forged notes, then keep them shut outside and call us immediately on 999.”

Anyone with information that could help police with their enquiries should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.