CON artists claiming to be water officials have been preying on elderly residents in Swindon.

Police are urging people to be wary after three incidents within a couple of hours of each other on Saturday.

Two bogus callers working together managed to talk their way into three homes.

They left empty-handed from two but stole a quantity of cash and benefit books from the third.

The first incident took place at about 5pm when two men went to the home of an elderly woman in Hawthorn Road, Pinehurst, and said they were from a water company.

They said they needed to check the water pressure following a leak further up the road and were allowed inside.

The pair went into the kitchen where they ran the tap and checked beneath the sink but the woman's son was upstairs and when he came down they quickly left.

Half an hour later they called at another home in Hawthorn Road.

A woman in her 80s, the mother of the occupant, opened the door and was told the same story by the men.

She invited them in and the men had started emptying the cupboard under the sink when the woman's daughter came downstairs.

Again, the men left in a hurry.

Then, at 6.45pm, two men called on a partially-sighted elderly man in Westwood Road, Penhill.

They again posed as water board workers and stated there was a problem with a valve at the address.

While one kept the resident talking on the doorstep, the other went inside and ransacked the bedroom, stealing a quantity of cash and benefits books from a bedside cabinet.

Police believe the same two men are responsible for all three incidents.

The suspects are described as white, 5ft 4ins to 5ft 6ins. They had short dark hair, wore dark clothing and both spoke with Irish accents.

A police spokesman said: "Inquiries reveal that these men were certainly bogus.

"Residents are reminded to request identification for all callers and not to allow access to the house until the identification has been confirmed."

A number of similar incidents were also reported in the Salisbury and Durrington areas at the weekend, which police believe could be linked.

They are urging anyone who knows the two men or have any information about the incidents to call them on 01793 528111 or in confidence at Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Andrew Boyd, a spokesman for Thames Water, said: "Such distraction burglaries are obviously extremely upsetting and we urge anyone particularly those vulnerable to be on their guard.

"Genuine Thames Water officials will only be too happy to wait to see that their identification is checked and verified by our customer support centre on 0845 9200800.

"We also have a pre-agreed password scheme for some of our more vulnerable customers."

Antony Osborne