TRICKSTERS have stolen more than £5,800 from a 71-year-old Potterne woman.

The woman saw two men looking at a car on her driveway in The Butts during the day on Tuesday September 24 and went out to see them.

The men chatted to the woman and soon afterwards went into the house with her where one of them talked to her while the other went upstairs and stole property.

The burglars stole £5,000 cash in various denominations, £800 in old £10 notes, a ruby and diamond ring, a gold brooch, a diamond ring, various gold necklaces, a large black iron safe and a smaller safe.

Both suspects are white. One was about 5ft 9 inches tall with fair hair and the other had blonde hair and was about 5ft 6 inches tall.

WPC Julie May of Devizes police said: "This offence is despicable and the lady is very upset about it. We are looking to see if it is connected to other recent distraction burglaries.

"These men must have been seen by someone as one of the safes was large and they would probably have had to carry it between them."

WPC May is appealing for residents to contact her if they have seen any suspicious people in the village.

On the Friday before the incident three men were cutting the woman's hedge and WPC May is keen to trace them. She said: "The hedge cutting incident may be totally unconnected but I would like to find out who these men were.

"I would also ask if anyone who had people offering to cut their hedge to contact me," she said.

Wiltshire Police has joined forces with other police forces in the south west to crack down on bogus callers and distraction burglaries.

Anyone with information should contact WPC May at Devizes police station on (01380) 722141.