POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a conwoman stole an elderly woman's necklace in Clacton.

The woman approached the victim, who is in her 90s, and offered to sell her a necklace which she held it up against the elderly woman's neck.

But when the pensioner got home she realised her gold necklace - worth about £200 - had been taken and that she was wearing the cheap necklace the woman had tried to sell her.

Crime reduction officer Calvin Heal said: “It's dreadful that this suspect has deliberately targeted an elderly and vulnerable shopper and I imagine she was left fairly shaken by the encounter.

“Unfortunately, these people are extremely persuasive and can often be difficult to say no to. They use high-pressure techniques and are very manipulative in order to get what they want.

“People who have fallen victim to their scams often feel naive and embarrassed that they’ve been deceived in this way, but these thieves are often career criminals who are well-practised at their art.”

The suspect is described as 35-50 years old, about 5ft 4in tall and had brown hair.

She was very tanned and had an English accent.

Anyone with information should call Clacton police station on 0300 333 4444.