A terrified great-grandad desperately tried to clamber out of his wheelchair for help when three bogus officials forced their way into his home and stole £400.
One of the men knocked on the front window of 85-year-old Francis Sherlow's one-bedroomed ground floor flat on Meadowcroft, Leyland, at 1.30pm on Wednesday.
The pensioner was asked to open the door but, when he did, two more men pushed in past his wheelchair.
One went into the kitchen, switching on a tap and claiming they were from the water board. The other entered the living room and felt the radiator but then started to open drawers in a bureau.
Francis tried to get out of his chair to press a panic alarm. The men ran away towards Leyland Lane and the Wade Hall estate.
His daughter Veronica Dewhurst, 59, of New Longton, today said: "My dad is very independent but when we arrived he was shaking in his chair in fright.
"Dad has lived there 27 years and lost mum in 1990. Who could do this to an old man in a wheelchair? They have no feelings."
Francis, a retired engineer who worked at Drydens in Preston and BTR in Leyland, is said to be nervous and frightened to be in his own home.
Police branded it a "callous and cowardly" attack.
Det Con Philip Grover of Leyland CID, said: "The victim felt very vulnerable and was fearful for his safety. This was a callous and cowardly offence."
The first offender who knocked on the window is described as white, aged mid to late 20s, clean shaven, with a round, chubby face and very short, sandy brown hair. He wore a grey T-shirt.
The second, also white and the same age, was stocky with a tanned complexion, dark curly hair and spoke with a strong Geordie accent. He wore a black T-shirt and black jeans.
The third, around 6ft, was clean shaven with short hair and wearing a white T-shirt and brown jeans or trousers.
Anyone with information should contact DC Phil Grover at Leyland CID on 01772 415947 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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