A Chelsea pensioner suffered a terrifying ordeal when she was tied to a chair while burglars ransacked her home.
The 62-year-old woman was left 'shocked and distressed' after three thugs turned over her Cheltenham Terrace home for jewels and cash on Sunday at about 8pm.
Minutes before the attack, she had been in Sloane Avenue, within a stone's throw of the safety of Chelsea police station. She had walked to buy a newspaper from the Texaco garage, at the back of the Lucan Place station.
But when she returned to her home and unlocked her front door, a group of men rushed at her from behind and pulled her hat down over her eyes. Unable to see, the frightened pensioner was brought into the house and tied to a chair.
The yobs asked her repeatedly: "Where's the money, where's your jewellery and where's your safe?"
One of the raiders kept guard over the blindfolded woman, while the other burglars ransacked the house.
After telling their victim they had a car, the three men left her. She waited five minutes before calling the police.
Two witnesses, who were walking near to Franklin's Row, later told police officers that they had seen two men running along the road with expensive carrier bags.
The men are described as wearing hooded tops, one of which was tan coloured.
A police spokeswoman said: "We have no detailed descriptions of the suspects but if anyone saw three males running nearby at 8pm, carrying expensive-looking carrier bags, please contact the Notting Hill focus unit."
Call Kensington and Chelsea police on 020 8246 0173 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.
