SUSPECTED burglars were caught on camera returning to the home of an 85-year-old woman just weeks after she had £14,000 stolen from her property.

The two men were scared off by an alarm fitted following the first raid in May as they tried to get in to the house on June 3.

The woman, who lives in Great Wakering, said she hopes that by releasing the footage the crooks will be put off making a third attempt.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “It was the second attempt, the first one was a month ago. I am 85 years old so it’s a bit off putting.

“The first time they ransacked the place. They knew exactly what they were looking for. They didn’t touch any of my jewellery, they just took money.

“There was so much of it because I had been ill and hadn’t been to the bank for some time.”

The woman is a property owner who collects cash from her tenants but said she will no longer keep it in the house.

Following the burglary, she contacted Terry Clarke, of iCare Security Systems, of London Road, Southend, who installed the cameras and alarm.

She said: “Terry put the alarm in and this time that went off, so they didn’t get anything this time.

“I did feel safe for about two or three weeks. I even went away for a week but I didn’t expect it to happen again.

“I’m certainly not keeping cash here again now. I have lived here for 36 years and nothing like this has happened before.”

The CCTV footage shows one man, wearing white gloves and a black hat, opening the garden gate and walking down the side of the property.

He tries a door but then walks to the other side of the house with an associate, also dressed all in black and wearing a balaclava.

The pair then spend a couple of minutes attempting to prise open a patio door. Mr Clarke said he believes the two men captured on CCTV also carried out the first raid.

He said: “I believe 100 per cent it is the same people. It was the same time of day. “They tried the door where they got in before but couldn’t because it was a new door. “They did get in but didn’t manage to steal anything this time because of the security system.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “The house was broken into sometime between 1.30pm and 2pm on Friday, June 3.

“A kitchen window was smashed to gain entry to the property but the men left when an alarm activated.

“Anybody who recognises the men is asked to contact Det Con Richard Siggers at Rayleigh on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”