A CALLOUS burglar smashed his way into a 92-year-old wom-an's village home before stealing all her money.

The robbery happened as great great grandmother Ellen Sop-er was watching television at her Thruxton home on Friday evening.

The first she knew of it was a tremendous crashing noise.

She said: "This bloke came running in and told me to get my coat, shoes and money because there was a fire next door."

But as she was getting her coat he began rifling through her belongings and went into her bedroom.

Mrs Soper went out into the passageway and asked him what he was doing because 'he looked a bit suspicious'.

The man fled through the front door.

He had stolen about £660 - all the money Mrs Soper had in the world.

He also took her purse which contained replac-ement batteries for her hearing aid.

The man had aimed two mighty kicks at the front door, which shattered the glass and the door jamb.

It was such a loud noise that her neighbour heard it and started putting his shoes on to investigate.

But the raid was over so quickly the man was gone by the time he got round to her home.

Her son, Mick Soper, said: "The silly thing is that if these people channeled all their energy into legitimate acti-vity, instead of crime, they would make a lot of money."

Meanwhile he praised the work of the police, both for the investigation into the crime itself and the follow-up care of Mrs Soper.

"You hear so many bad reports about the police but I have to say that their response was superb," he said.

The police will also be assessing additional security measures for Mrs Soper's home.

Investigating officers believe the raid may be linked with other similar offences in which elderly people have been targeted in Hampshire.

They also want to speak to a man who was walking his two dogs at about the time of the burglary and who may have seen something. Winesses are asked to contact Dc Heidi Boyd on 0845 045 4545.