HOUSEHOLDERS - particularly the elderly - have been warned to be on their guard against bogus waterboard officials.

This follows three distraction burglaries last Saturday, in which men claiming to be from the waterboard called at houses in Salisbury, Amesbury and Durrington.

The first offence occurred in Herbert Road, Salisbury, about 1.35pm, when three men called at a house, saying they needed to turn the water off.

While one of the men took the 60-year-old householder into the kitchen, the other two searched other rooms and made off with £50.

One of the men was later described as being about 5ft tall, in his late 20s and well-built, with a round face and dark curly hair, and wearing a dark-blue sports jacket or blazer.

The other two were said to be taller than the first man and wearing dark clothing and woolly hats. All three were wearing wool gloves.

The second offence happened about 2.30pm, in Queensberry Road, Amesbury, when a man called at the home of an 84-year-old woman and was allowed into the kitchen, after he said he had called to check the water supply.

He asked to be left alone in the kitchen and said he needed the door to be closed.

When the woman checked on his progress, she found that he had left the house, leaving the tap running.

Nothing was stolen in this incident.

But 20 minutes later, an 80-year-old pensioner was robbed of a handbag and cash, after three men called at her home in Durrington, saying they were checking a water leak

One of the men was white, aged about 50, about 5ft 4in tall and of stocky build, and was wearing a dark-coloured suit.

The other two were white and in their 20s.

A police spokesman later urged householders not to allow unexpected callers into their homes unless the callers were able to produce evidence of identification.

"Whether it's a child asking for a glass of water or someone offering to tarmac your drive, never let them into your house unless you are sure they are genuine," said the spokesman.

A middle-aged man with swept-back, shiny hair is being sought by police, after a distraction burglary at Amesbury last Thursday.

The man, aged between 40 and 50, engaged an elderly man in conversation in Kitchener Road, about 11am, and a little later, turned up at the pensioner's home.

He was found on the property by the pensioner's wife and told her that he had come to look at some garden flowers.

After he had left, she found that a bag containing cash and other valuables had been stolen from her bedroom.

The intruder was about 5ft 8in tall and of untidy appearance.