A CONMAN posing as a police officer to fleece vulnerable pensioners out of thousands of pounds targeted five homes in just one day.

The con artist is already wanted in connection with incidents in Wickford and Billericay, which took place over the course of the last 11 days.

However, on Saturday he stepped up his crime spree by carrying out five more cons in Wickford in the space of just one day.

Police are now desperately searching for the man and are following up information, which suggests he is using a white coloured van to travel between victims.

Eunice Brockman, from Wickford Neighbourhood Action Group, said: “This man needs to be caught and quickly.

“Then he needs to be put away for a long time.

“A lot of people with elderly friends and family members are very concerned about this.”

The conman, posing as a police officer, knocks at his victim’s home and tells them he believes they have counterfeit money and that he needs to check their bank notes to make sure it is legitimate currency.

He then barges his way in to their property and orders them to hand over the cash before making off.

On March 5, the conman targeted an 84-year-old woman, at her home in The Rising, Billericay, taking £1,000 from her bedroom – money which she had been saving up to pay off her council tax.

Speaking to the Echo, the victim said; “I really do not feel happy about it. He is a swine. This man is obviously preying on older people because he thinks we are daft.”

Insp Neil Carman, from Basildon’s neighbourhood Police, said patrols were being stepped up in the areas affected.

He said: “The neighbourhood team are working to educate and reassure local residents.

“This includes PCSOs knocking on doors and warning people, handing out leaflets and speaking to community groups so they are in a position to warn elderly members.”

The conman is described as a fat, white man, about 6ft 2ins tall.

He was wearing “tidy” clothes and spoke with a local accent.