An 82-year-old Orpington woman was burgled after she invited a man claiming to be from Affinity Sutton into her home.

Ruth Broad, 82, of Cotmandene Crescent, answered the door just before 3pm last Wednesday (July 16).

The man - who called himself Kevin - led her into the garden and engaged her in conversation, while thousands of pounds in cash and jewellery was taken from inside.

Son Andrew Broad, 50, told News Shopper: "The same man had come to the house back in March and said he was from Affinity Sutton and said he'd come to fix her fence.

"Her fence did happen to be broken and he had a look at it and said they'd be sending someone along to deal with it.

"Affinity Sutton fixed the fence four of five weeks ago.

"Then on Wednesday the same man came to the house. He said I am Kevin from Affinity Sutton and I've come to see if your fence has been fixed.

"When he came into the house he kept asking my mother to go into the garden. She is disabled and didn't want to but he was grabbing her arm.

"He was saying things to her like 'you must have been good looking when you were younger' and asking about these two fridges that are in the garden that she needs to get rid of.

"They took £120 from her handbag, they took jewellery including a charm bracelet worth £2,500 and they took her safe, containing thousands of pounds in cash."

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating a distraction burglary in Cotmandene Crescent, Orpington.

"At around 3pm on Wednesday July 16 a man claiming to be employed by a local housing association called at the property and told the victim he was there to repair her fence.

"As he was in the garden another suspect was heard inside the house and after the first suspect left the victim found she had been burgled.

"Suspect one is described as being a white man, in his 50s, unshaven with scruffy hair and robust looking. He had a very cockney accent and was wearing scruffy clothing including a grey jacket. 

"Anyone with any information should contact Bromley police on 101 or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."