A spinster who died while tied up in her bedroom during a suspected robbery warned a neighbor weeks earlier she was being pursued for cash.

Eveline Kelmenson A”H, 83, was found with her legs bound with duct tape in the bedroom of her home on New Year’s Day.

Detectives said she had no obvious injuries and they were searching for evidence of a break-in at the terraced property in Stamford Hill, east London.

They are also reviewing their investigation into an incident last year when the pensioner was targeted by thieves posing as gardeners.

Neighbours said the dead woman was Jewish and had lived in the three story terraced house for as long as people on the street could remember.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said she spoke to the pensioner several weeks ago.

She said: “She told me that there was somebody after her money but I didn’t ask any more about it. I just assumed she was old and confused.”

Murder squad detectives launched an investigation when local officers discovered the woman after a niece raised concerns.

Officers accompanied by paramedics forced their way into the house in Leweston Place shortly before 5pm yesterday.

Next-door neighbour Rebecca Goldberger, who has lived in the area for more than 16 years, said the elderly woman had been targeted by criminals before.

She said the pensioner was robbed last year by conmen posing as gardeners who tricked their way into the house and stole money.

Mrs Goldberger said: “The police say the house has been very cold so I think that is confusing things about when she might have died. Nobody knows how long she’s been there.

“This is quite a busy street and there are always people coming and going. Everybody is shocked.”

Neighbours described the dead woman as very independent and able bodied despite her age. Many said that they thought she was in her seventies because she was so active.

Police cordoned off both the dead woman’s home, number three, and the next door property, number five.

Forensics officers could be seen going in and out of the house and small crowds of onlookers had gathered as people in the largely orthodox Jewish area.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the death of the woman, who lived alone, was being treated as suspicious.

(Source: The Independent UK / YWN-112)