Rose, 85, was targeted by rogue cold callers days before killing
MURDERED widow Rosina Coleman was targeted by menacing cold callers just days before she was brutally killed in her home, it emerged last night.
Neighbours told police how two men wearing hi-vis jackets had knocked on the 85-year-old victim’s door as they touted for work.
They fear the men, in their 30s, were prowling in the area in a bid to identify vulnerable elderly people.
Detectives launched a manhunt after the great grandmother, known as Rose, was left to die following a “cowardly” and “despicable” attack in her bungalow which had been her home for more than 50 years.
Defenceless
Mrs Coleman had been living alone since the death of husband Bill, a former Fleet Street printer, 11 years ago. The mother of two’s body was found by her gardener after he let himself into the property in Romford, east London, at 11.30am on Tuesday.
It is feared the defenceless former seamstress was battered to death after opening the door to her killer.
Neighbour Patricia Branch, 75, told how the murder happened after the two men had been touring the neighbourhood looking for rich pickings.
She said: “They came within the last couple of weeks. They were going around the bungalows because it’s old people [who live there].
“They visited us. One knocked first saying he wanted to do the guttering then the other, who was darker skinned, came about the path.
“They were wearing hi-vis jackets to make themselves look more official. Some of the people who come round leave cards but these men didn’t. They looked very sinister.”
She added: “They didn’t have any credentials and I didn’t see their van as they must have parked it somewhere round the corner.”
Mrs Branch told how elderly locals had been plagued by threatening visitors offering to carry out work.
“We get so many cold callers, sometimes once a week and you don’t know if they are summing you up to come back later,” she said.
She had allowed men to do work on her roof. They finished the job in 20 minutes and demanded £300.
Mrs Branch said: “I had to go down to the cash machine to give them the money and they followed me down there. That’s how intimidating it is. I thought if I didn’t take it out they would hurt me.
“It’s got really out of control and nothing is being done to stop these people until it is too late.
“Years ago you would report them to the police and they would nip it in the bud but that just doesn’t happen any more.”
And she paid tribute to Mrs Coleman: “She was a lovely lady. I just cannot believe that anybody would want to do anything to her,” she said. “We didn’t sleep. We are so anxious.”
The bungalow remained sealed off yesterday while a post-mortem examination was being carried out.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At this stage there have been no arrests.”