Rocky Mount Police Say Thieves Target Elderly

When two men claiming to be police officers showed up at Annie Nelson's front door asking about a recent robbery, she knew something was wrong.

"He was talking about some money. I said, 'I ain't got no money and everything?', but he came on in and I said, 'what are you doing?'" she said.

Nelson said one of the men walked into her house, grabbed her purse and took off with $1,200 she had been saving.

Rocky Mount police say it is the fifth case they have seen in the last four months. So far, police say the thieves have gotten away with thousands of dollars.

Investigators want to get the word out that they would not show up on someone's front door asking to see cash or jewelry. They say if someone tries to do that, do not hand the money over, but instead, call the police.

Wilson police said someone is pulling the same scam in that area. The two departments are comparing notes to see if it is the same police impersonators.