BROMLEY: Police impersonators rob and beat pensioner (From News Shopper)

BROMLEY: Police impersonators rob and beat pensioner

4:33pm Wednesday 17th December 2008 in

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AN 89-YEAR-OLD man has been beaten and robbed in his home by two men pretending to be police officers.

The thugs forced their way into his property in Walpole Road, Bromley Common, after he opened the door to one of them when he said he was a policeman.

They began to hit him in the face as he was slow to respond to their demands for money and one of them pulled the telephone line out of the wall before ransacking the rest of the house.

As they left the house they warned the pensioner they would be monitoring him.

The victim sustained several head injuries including two black eyes, a swollen nose and a swollen ear during the attack.

He managed to call police from a neighbour's house and was taken to hospital where he was kept in for observation.

Both of the suspects are white and aged between 30 and 35 years old.

The first one was around 5ft 7in and stocky.

He had black hair and wore a blue tunic over blue cord trousers.

The second man, pictured in the E-fit image, was around 5ft 10in and muscular and is described as having prominent facial features.

He had light brown to blond hair and was wearing a smart grey suit.

The attack happened at around 8pm on December 4.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Alex Phipp said: “We are all horrified by the details of this dreadful and completely unwarranted attack.

“The victim was understandably frightened by their shouting and their threats, as anyone of any age would be.

"They then began to hit him because he was responding slowly which is one of the most heartless things I have heard.

"Unfortunately, we often hear of vulnerable victims being robbed and threatened in their own homes by people pretending to be police officers.

“We need to repeat the message that a genuine police officer would normally call by appointment.

“He or she would certainly show their ID before gaining entry and allow time for details to be checked."

Anyone who has any information about the suspect should call the police on 020 8284 9969 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 to remain anonymous.