THREE people in their 70s and 80s, have been targeted after a string of distraction burglaries in Suffolk.

Police officers are appealing for information to help their inquiries after the incidents in the Lowestoft and Wrentham areas on Saturday evening.

At around 7.15pm a man in his 80s heard a knock at the door of his home in Bonsey Gardens, Wrentham.

He answered the door to a man, described as white and between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins, in his 30s with short hair.

The man claimed to be working on the water supply and asked to check the occupant’s taps to ensure they were working.

He pushed past the resident, testing the taps in the kitchen.

But moments later the man saw two other men leaving his home with the first man. He then discovered money had been stolen from his wallet.

Officers investigating are linking the incident to two similar distraction burglaries in the area around the same time.

Between 7pm and 8pm, at Lorne Park Road, a woman in her 80s heard a knock at the door and answered it to find a man, described as white, around 5ft 11ins, of medium build, aged in his mid 20s to 30s.

He was wearing a black three-quarter length coat, a black woolly hat and a scarf partially over his face.

He walked into her home saying he was putting a new water system in next door and that he needed to check her water was ok.

The man went into her kitchen where he proceeded to distract her by fiddling with the taps and going under the sink.

The woman then noticed a second man – also white, of similar age, height and build and also wearing a dark coat and woolly hat - in her home.

The first man explained he was a colleague and continued to talk to her about the water before both men left.

A short time later the woman discovered money had been taken from her purse.

The third incident happened at a home in London Road Pakefield around 7.45pm.

A woman in her 70s heard a knock at the door but wisely did not open it but instead began having a conversation with a man through a window in the door.

The man wanted to gain access to her home claiming that a neighbours washing machine was leaking and that the valves under her sink needed adjusting.

A police spokeswoman said: “Being extremely alert, she did not believe him and kept the door shut. The man then stated that if she didn’t let him in her kitchen would flood. The lady then told him she was going to call police and as she was making the call the man left.”

Police officers are keen to speak to anyone who was in any of the areas and saw anything that may help.

Officers are also urging residents to follow the example of the lady at London Road Pakefield and never let strangers into your home without checking their identity and always alert police immediately using 999 if you have a suspicious caller.

Anyone with information about the incidents or the offenders is asked to call Lowestoft CID on 01986 835300.