THE NET may be closing around a gang of serial burglars which has been preying on the elderly and disabled and claiming to be elite police officers.

Vital to the police hunt is an e-fit of one of the men – who claimed to be working for special branch.

The thief and his accomplices are believed to have been involved in three break-ins over a weekend during the run-up to Christmas.

Detective Constable Graeme Hargreaves said: “I would really like to hear from anyone who may recognise the man in the e-fit.

“I would also still like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious men, possibly in a group of up to four, knocking on doors in the area or any suspicious vehicles.”

The first case was at 6.30pm on, Friday, December 12 when two thieves tried to rob a 79-year-old woman, in her flat, at Blenhiem Avenue, Portswood, When she found them crawling around on her floor, they claimed to be special branch officers who had noticed her side door had been forced and decided to investigate.

They told her to check if anything was missing to help with their inquiries but she ushered them outside and called a friend at which point the men ran off.

The woman later found they had ransacked her bedroom but had not taken anything.

A 59-year-old disabled man was targeted in the second incident in Honeysuckle Road, Portswood, on Saturday, December 13 at 2.30pm When two men were discovered on the premises they again lied about being special branch and persuaded the householder to show them around the property.

They later fled without stealing anything but left their intended victim badly shaken.

It was this man who helped police put together an e-fit of one of the men involved.

An 83-year-old severely disabled woman was the next victim at 3.30pm on the same Saturday in South Road, Portswood.

She found a man in her front room who claimed to be a police officer. He started searching the room and her handbag helping himself to £50 and leaving the scene.

The man in the e-fit is described as white, in his 30s, medium build, 5ft 5in with short, well cut, black hair.

He also has sideburns stretching down to the middle of his ear, dark thin eyebrows and stubble.

He had an Irish accent and wore a black bomber jacket and dark jeans.

One of his accomplices is said to be white, about 30 years old and 5ft 7in tall.

The man in the third incident is said to be white, aged approximately 40, stocky, 6ft and dressed completely in black.

Anyone with information should contact Bitterne police on 0845 045 4545.