AN 88-year-old woman was fleeced of a large amount of cash by thieves who then abandoned her in Huddersfield town centre.
Sickened detectives have appealed for information about the heartless crooks.
The victim answered a knock on her door in Norwood Road, Birkby, on Tuesday morning.
Two men claimed her roof needed repairing and asked for cash in advance to do the work.
She gave them some money, but they persuaded her to get her cheque book, climb in their van and took her to Huddersfield town centre.
She was taken to the HSBC bank on Cloth Hall Street at about 11.45am where she used her cheque book to withdraw a large amount of cash.
She went back outside with the money, but the greedy thieves sent her back in for more.
When she returned with another substantial amount the thieves told her to wait on the street and they would pick her up in a few minutes - but never came back.
Det Con Steve Shaw, of Huddersfield police, said: "This was the callous targeting of a vulnerable old person by thieves who have taken terrible advantage of her.
"She felt very intimidated by them - so much so that she went back into the bank a second time.
"Then they just abandoned her."
Police are also keen to trace anyone else who may have been approached by the thieves and may even have turned them away.
One of the thieves is white, aged 40 to 50, 5ft 10ins tall and stocky with dark hair.
He wore a grey flat cap and a grey jacket.
His accomplice is white, in his 30s, 5ft 7ins tall and slim with dark hair.
The men were driving a small white van with a lot of ladders on it.
Anyone with information should contact Pc Gary Hodgson on 01484 436659.
