PENSIONERS have been warned to remain vigilant after a gang of thieves posing as gas board officials struck in Suffolk and Essex.Police are investigating whether the same gang, dressed in workman style coats, may have targeted a number of pensioners in both counties.

PENSIONERS have been warned to remain vigilant after a gang of thieves posing as gas board officials struck in Suffolk and Essex.

Police are investigating whether the same gang, dressed in workman style coats, may have targeted a number of pensioners in both counties.

So far the thieves, who have stolen cash from their victims, have struck in Sudbury, Great Cornard Colchester, Dunmow, Chelmsford and Ipswich.

Det Con John Gibbens of Sudbury CID said: "We are very concerned that elderly people have been targeted by bogus callers in the Sudbury area.

"We are aware a number of distraction burglaries also took place over the border in Essex and we are exploring the possibilities of these incidents being linked.

"We will not tolerate the actions of any criminal, let alone those who deliberately target elderly members of our community.

"Please keep an eye out in your area and make sure you notify us of anyone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood."

All the pensioners fell victim to the conmen on Monday, October 20. Suffolk police were alerted to York Road, Sudbury when at 1pm an elderly couple allowed a man into their home after he said he was a gas official.

He spoke to them and after he left it was discovered a quantity of cash had been taken. He is described as white, 30, 5ft 8in tall, with short dark hair and wore a dark blue 'donkey' style jacket.

Just 45 minutes later an 88-year-old woman was targeted in Butt Road, Great Cornard when two men called on her claiming to be gas officials. While one talked to the woman the other went into the home and cash was taken. Both were described as white, 25-30, around 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, and were wearing 'workman' style jackets.

Later a 91-year-old woman, was targeted at her home in Minsmere Way, Great Cornard. The two men entered her home after saying they needed to check a gas fire and cash was taken.

Essex Police said that thieves fitting a similar description and using the same methods were active in the county on the same day.

A police spokesman said: "We had some very similar incidents in Dunmow, Colchester and Chelmsford. They were carried out in the space of three hours and the people involved fit the same description as those operating in Suffolk. They also told their victims they were gas board officials."

At around 3.30pm an 81-year-old woman in Lister Road, Ipswich, had money stolen during a distraction burglary, although detectives are not sure if this is connected to the other crimes.

Anyone with any information should call Det Con John Gibbens at Sudbury police on 01284 774300 or contact Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555111.