The burglary happened at about 11am on Tuesday (September 30) at the victim's home in Stanley Street.
The 79-year-old man answered the door to a man who claimed to be working on next door's house and needed to look at the water supply because he was having problems with the boiler. He did not show any identification but the victim let him in.


But the homeowner quickly became suspicious and asked him to leave. As he did so, he noticed two other men standing in the living room and also asked these men to leave.
The victim later noticed that the food tray worth just £1 had been stolen.


Police are now appealing to residents in the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to police. Anyone with information about the burglary is also urged to come forward.
The main offender is described as white, about 5ft 4in to 5ft 6in tall, with dark hair, a moustache and of slim build. He was wearing a dark-coloured suit and was well spoken. The other two men were both said to be white, in their 30s, of stocky build and wearing casual clothing.


Detective Constable John O'Donnell, of the Strategic Crime Investigation Unit at Wigan, said: "Please do not let anyone into your home unless they can show you the correct identification. A reputable and legitimate firm will always be prepared to prove the identity of a salesman or caller so do not hesitate to call them if you are unsure.
"Residents can play their part by remaining vigilant and if you see these men operating in the area or have any suspicions please call us immediately and together we can stop these sorts of characters from profiting.


"In this particular instance, the victim did ask the men to leave before they had an opportunity to ransack his house, but they still stooped as low as to steal an item worth just £1. Although the victim was not injured, he was understandably upset that these men invaded his home and his privacy and had the audacity to steal a food tray.
"I doubt they have a conscience, but if they are reading or hearing this, I hope they are thoroughly ashamed of themselves and rest assured, we are coming for you."


Anyone with information is asked to call Wigan Police Station on 0161 856 7255 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.