POLICE are warning residents to beware of cowboy security firms after a pensioner agreed to hand over more than £4,000.

The 65-year-old woman, who lives near Albert Park, Middlesbrough, received a telephone call from a local firm asking her if she wanted to buy an alarm system.

Although she was at first reluctant, she agreed to let a salesman call the next day.

She consented to buy the £2,400 package, pledging to pay it off in weekly instalments out of her pension.

It was not until she was visited by a police officer that she realised it would end up costing her £4,200 overall.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, said: "I think I was very vulnerable because I was burgled on New Year's Day and the house was left in a terrible mess."

The pensioner said while the salesman made the system sound highly appealing, he failed to make its cost clear.

"I feel angry because he was very persuasive and I know they have conned other people," she said. "I really did not want it, but I felt pressurised."

PC Mick Quinnell, a crime prevention officer for Cleveland police, said: "What we are saying to people is that we don't recommend that they buy from door-to-door salesmen, or from telesales people. We always recommend that they get three or four quotes.

"The police has its own list of reputable companies, which any crime prevention officer will give them."