BURGLARS claimed there had been a gas explosion to distract their victim to get into her home.

A man knocked on the door of a home in Kinross Road, Cambridge, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Friday (January 4) and said he needed to check the victim’s water to see if it had been contaminated by the blast.

The 72-year-old allowed him in and was asked to fill up saucepans with water in her kitchen. She heard a noise from upstairs and found another man searching her bedroom.

She shouted at him and two or three more men appeared and ran out of the home, in the direction of Scotland Road.

Nothing is believed to have been stolen.

The man who called at the house is described as white, 21 to 40, slim, with a black “goatie” beard. He wore a navy jumper and dark trousers.

DC Andy Day, who is investigating, said: “This was a cowardly and despicable offence against a vulnerable woman. I would like to hear from anyone who thinks they have information that could help our inquiry.”

INFORMATION: Anyone with information should contact DC Day on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.