FINDING that you have been the victim of any theft is a worrying and disturbing thing.

So one cannot begin to imagine how 81-year-old Joan Hall must feel.

The pensioner was duped by a man who had the nerve to steal from her after she was only trying to help out a neighbour.

His con only goes to show how careful we must be when letting people into our homes, no matter how genuine they might be.

Now brave Ms Hall, who has battled cancer three times in her life, has spoken out to warn others.

And it is vital that we all heed her words.

Too often we hear about fraudsters who will take advantage of even the most kindly of citizens.

Although this must not prevent us from trying to help neighbours or those in need, we must all take sensible precautions to stay safe.

It is vital that we do not let people into our homes without checking their credentials.

We must all remember to double-check that people have identification or make sure our neighbours can verify who the person is.

Ms Hall’s story serves as a stark reminder that we must all take care and ensure we know exactly who we let into our homes.