AN ABBEYVIEW pensioner has been left terrified after a conman stole £300 from her home.

Elaine Cameron believed she was speaking to her neighbour late last Tuesday evening when a man knocked on her door saying he would fix a camera on her door.

Unbelievably, the 83-year-old, who lives in a block of flats, was also hounded the following evening when someone started banging on her bedroom window and shone a light through it in the late hours.

Police Scotland are currently investigating the incident but no arrests have yet been made.

Michelle Dixon, one of Elaine's four daughters, told the Press: "At first, my mum seemed to be alright but the following evening she was absolutely terrified so we've arranged for family to stay with her now.

"We've re-done the locks and put extra security in just so she can feel safe.

"I think the most worrying part is that the man was so nice to her.

"We just hope the police get them – it's absolutely disgusting."

When Michelle first got a phone call from her mum after the incident, she was told that a neighbour had stolen money from the pensioner.

But after speaking to the neighbour in question, Elaine realised she had been tricked and it wasn't the neighbour she thought that had charmed his way into her property.

"I first told my mum to calm down and I went over to check just in case the money was still there," Michelle explained.

"There's a communal door there with a buzzer for the flats but it's broken and so that's how this man got in.

"When there was a knock on the door she just thought it was one of us but this man was standing there with a face mask on.

"She has a camera on her door and he said that it had come off and he would be happy to fix it.

"She told him not to bother but when she asked for his name and he said 'David' she jut presumed it was her neighbour."

When the man tried to fix the camera he walked to the kitchen a couple of times to say he needed better light.

He also went off to clean her ashtray and tricked her into thinking there was someone at her back door, where he got the chance to steal the money.

Michelle said: "He told her he had to go as he was a carer. After that, my mum knew something was strange and checked her purse that she had just filled with money for a painter and decorator and it was gone.

"He also stole the camera.

"It's unfortunate that she thought it was her neighbour but you think what would have happened if she didn't let him in?

"Would she have been hurt? It's just a nightmare.

"Neighbours also saw two people standing outside.

"She's lived here 30 years and nothing like this has happened before – she's terrified."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police Scotland was made aware of a theft from a property in Dunfermline which happened between 9.45pm and 10.15pm on Tuesday, 30 June.

"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting incident 4129 of 30 June."