Burglars told Finchley victim they were plain clothes policemen

The 55-year-old victim was asleep in her home in Holly Park Gardens, in Finchley, at around 8pm on January 26 when she awoke to find two men in her bedroom.

They told the woman, who lives alone, they had arrested two men for breaking into her flat, but then ran away.

It is believed a third man was also with them.

After calling the police, the woman later discovered that they took a large amount of money as well as some gold rings and jewellery.

The woman says she is now “terrified” to be in her own home and struggles to sleep.

She said: “I woke up and they were banging on my door, and the next thing I know these men are telling me they are plain clothes policemen who arrested two people in my flat.

“I didn’t believe them and I told them I was going to ring a friend to check their story, but they stopped me and told me not to.

“I asked for ID three times but they wouldn’t give it to me. They said they don’t always carry ID and I knew it was very suspicious.

“They told me my room had been ransacked. I didn’t know what to believe.”

Two of the men told her to check her valuables and spent 20 minutes trying to convince her to do so – but when she refused, they left.

It is thought that during this time, a third man stole money from her wallet, jewellery and rings.

She added: “It was terrifying. I am terrified, it’s frightening that someone can just barge into your house and spin you a story like that. What is the world coming to?

“They robbed me blind. I can’t sleep now because I am always scared somebody is going to be at the door.

“I feel shocking, gutted and frightened. I really do feel terrible. These people really are the scum of the earth.”

The suspects are described as white men, wearing casual clothing but no further descriptions are available.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.