Dame Vera joins fight against 'despicable crooks'

The launch was attended by the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex, Sussex Police assistant chief constable Jeremy Paine, Sussex Crimestoppers chairman Don Edwardson and local police officers and campaign sponsors.

The campaign carries the slogan: 'Knock, knock, who's there? Tell us who they are' on posters to be displayed at railway stations and all public places.

It aims to tell older people never to open the door to people they don't know and avoid falling for distraction burglaries which claimed 277 victims in Sussex last year.

Dame Vera agreed to be appointed patron of Sussex Crimestoppers and described how she had fallen victim to burglars at her Ditchling home.

She said: 'Now I am well locked in and use chains on doors.

'If someone is at the door I look through the window to check whether I recognise them.

'If I don't I don't let them in.

'Why should these despicable crooks take valuable things that you have worked hard all your life to have?'