Avon and Somerset Police in Bath are reminding people, particularly the elderly, not to allow strangers and cold-callers into their homes following a number of distraction burglaries.
It follows three distraction burglaries in November in which elderly and vulnerable residents were tricked and had substantial amounts of cash stolen.
At Englishcombe Lane on 12th November a man and a woman talked their way into the home of an 89-year-old man living alone. They said they were from Age Concern and had come to look at fitting handrails. They stole his wallet.
The woman is described a white, around 30 years old, 5ft 4ins tall and with medium-length hair. The man was 45, 6ft tall, with dark hair and dark features and stained teeth.
In Wedmore Park, Southdown on 21st November, an 86-year-old man was alone at home when a man called claiming to be from the water board needing to check the stop-cock. He was allowed in, and while he was at work another man came in. The owner challenged him and both men left. It was later found that several hundred pounds in cash had been stolen.
The men claiming to be from the water board was aged 40-50, about 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build and wearing a yellow coat.
At Morley Terrace in Twerton on 30th November, at around 4.30pm, a man claiming to be from the council called at the home of a 73-year-old woman. He said he needed to see where to fit an intercom system, and while he was in the house he stole the woman’s handbag containing a large amount of cash.
He was white, in his 20s, with light brown hair and wearing a khaki-coloured coat and carrying an orange Sainsburys plastic bag.
Police say the burglaries do not appear to be connected. They are appealing for any information, and advising people never to allow strangers into their home.
For more advice please see the crime reduction and community safety pages on their website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.