AUDREY Steer used to feel safe in her own home.

But ever since the 87-year-old became the victim of a burglar two months ago she has found it difficult to relax.

Mrs Steer said: "It's very unpleasant and it gives you a nasty feeling that every time you leave your room, even to collect your laundry, you are vulnerable.

"It's quite outrageous that people can come and go into the building and take your money. "You wonder what else could happen."

Mrs Steer is just one of the victims of a man believed to be specifically targeting the elderly residents of The Firs complex in Sherwood.

In her case, money was stolen from coin carriers and note cases while she was watching television with her husband Eric, 89.

She said: "We were sitting in my lounge watching the television, not suspecting anything at all.

"We went to bed and it wasn't until the following morning we were woken up and my husband found a coin on the floor.

"He picked up his purse and it was empty, and his notecase was empty too.

"The only thing that could have happened is, because we were in my room watching television, somebody got into his room and took his money and repeated the thing in my room and took my money."

Between £40 and £80 was taken from Mr and Mrs Steer.

Mrs Steer previously lived in Mapperley Park, but moved to The Firs, which is in Elmswood Gardens, in May 2009.

Her husband was in hospital at the time, but he has since joined her, living in an adjacent flat. The burglary happened about two months ago.

Mrs Steer said: "You don't expect to be vulnerable when you are in your late-80s in a warden-aided apartment. It doesn't give old people a sense of security."

Another resident living opposite Mrs Steer had about £100 stolen.

Mrs Steer said: "The lady opposite came to me in great distress because she has seen this man.

"She left her door open and went down to the front entrance to pick up her paper.

"In that short time he was in her bedroom and came out when she came upstairs.

"He came out of her apartment and she saw him and he said 'I'm just checking the safety of the windows, love'.

"She was absolutely shaking to think that something like that could happen. She's really traumatised."

There are three parts to The Firs – sheltered flats and bungalows, residential care and nursing care.

The burglaries have been in the sheltered flats and bungalows.

Scheme manager Neil Kenyon said that the first happened about four months ago and there have been at least six in total.

Mr Kenyon said: "Sometimes he has walked up and down the corridors, being seen by residents and casually waves, saying he is checking the windows.

"It's a lot of money for the residents, but it's also the effect it has on them, because it puts them in a lot of fear.

"It might be he's making a good wage on what he's doing if he's trying around other houses in Sherwood."

Mr Kenyon said there could have been more than six burglaries, but some residents are not sure if they have just lost their purses.

He added: "Normally they are in when they are burgled and they have just left their door open. With one lady, he actually came into the room she was in.

"She woke up and he said he was checking her windows. He scared the life out of her. He's completely undaunted."

A spokeswoman for Notts Police said they have had five burglaries at the complex reported to them.

She said: "Throughout May, there were reports of three burglaries at Elmswood Gardens. A man was arrested in connection with these offences, but was subsequently released without charge. Between June and August, two offences were reported.

"Police will continue to carry out patrols in the area and are investigating lines of inquiry in relation to these offences.

"Burglary is a force priority and we are determined to make Nottinghamshire a safer place to live. CCTV can be a deterrent and crime prevention advice has been issued to the home."

The sheltered housing scheme is owned by a charity, the Abbeyfield Society, and Mr Kenyon believes the police should help to pay for CCTV.

He said: "The burglar is generally taking advantage of our members not fully looking after their own security.

"Anyone can get access to the site as it is not fenced off, and it is easy for someone to walk around the gardens looking for unlocked doors to the bungalows.

"We are unable to bring in new security measures as we are a not-for-profit organisation and would have to raise fees for our members to fund them.

"We are hoping police can install CCTV on the site."