POLICE issued an urgent warning to householders, particularly the elderly, to be alert to bogus officials following distraction burglaries across Fenland. A young man, posing as water board official, called at the homes of elderly people in Nordelph and O

POLICE issued an urgent warning to householders, particularly the elderly, to be alert to bogus officials following distraction burglaries across Fenland.

A young man, posing as water board official, called at the homes of elderly people in Nordelph and Outwell and distracted their victims while a second man stole cash from the home.

The first offence happened between 3pm and 3.30pm at The Cottons, Outwell, where £500 was stolen from the home of an elderly man.

At 3.40pm, what is believed to be the same pair of thieves, called at the home of a woman in her 80s in Outwell Road, Nordelph.

While the first male distracted the woman in the kitchen, his accomplice let himself into the home to steal £215.

In Chatteris, a woman in her 90s was at home when a youth knocked at the door claiming he was from the water board.

After getting in he took a small amount of cash contained in a bag.

Another incident happened in Knight's End Road, March, at about 11am, when two men described as being in the late teens or 20s knocked on the door of an 84-year-old, again claiming they were from the water board.

Police spokesman Beth Manning said: "We would advise householders to be aware of such thieves operating in the area and to take the simple steps needed to guard against them.