CALLOUS thieves posing as waterboard officers have left an 86-year-old widow too frightened to sleep after they stole more than £3,000 from her home.
Gladys Beaty, ofHoyland Common, was devastated when she discovered about £3,500 had been taken from a bedroom drawer.
She had answered the door to a smartly dressed man who claimed he was from the water board and needed to check her water supply.
The man pretended to turn her water off and distracted Gladys in the kitchen while it is believed a second man searched her bedroom.
The retired home help wept as she told the Chronicle the ordeal had terrified her.
She said: "I can't sleep anymore. I'm up at 4am because of it. I have never been in this state before. Look what they've done to me.
"He asked my age and whether I lived on my own and kept me talking while the other one must have gone in.
"I think they're lousy buggers. I have worked hard all of my life and saved that money and look where I am now. They only left me the £10 that was in my purse. I don't even have enough to get a taxi to the shops."
