DETECTIVES in Suffolk are today repeating their warning "If in doubt – keep them out" after a spate of bogus callers preyed on the vulnerable.

DETECTIVES in Suffolk are today repeated their warning "If in doubt – keep them out" after a spate of bogus callers preyed on the vulnerable.

The first incident happened at around 11.30pm in Cemetery Road, Ipswich, yesterday when a 64-year-old lady opened her door to a man asking whether she would like her windows cleaned, she declined.

A second man arrived stating he was from the water board, although the lady became suspicious she was unable to stop the man from entering her home.

When the man realised that his accomplice hadn't managed to enter the house he left immediately.

In St John's Road, Ipswich, at around 12.25pm a man came to the home of an elderly lady and her son asking whether they would like their windows cleaned, this was declined. The man returned later and when the lady opened the door he informed her that he was from the water board and he needed to check for any leaks. The man was shown into the house.

It was later established that a second man had entered the house while the occupants had been distracted and taken a quantity of cash from an upstairs room.

Between noon and 12.30pm an elderly couple in Broadcroft Crescent, Haverhill, opened their door to a man purporting to be from the water board, the couple became suspicious of the man and didn't allow him into their home.

At around 1.30pm a 77-year-old lady in Maidstone Road, Felixstowe, opened the door to a man stating there had been a nearby gas leak and he needed to turn off her gas supply. The man was shown into the house. Whilst the lady was being distracted a second man entered and searched the house. Nothing was taken during this incident.

Just after 3.20pm in Acacia Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, an elderly couple were visited by a man purporting to be from the water board. The man was challenged and his ID was requested. The man did gain access to the house but when challenged again he was asked to leave. As he did so two further men were seen on the stairs, challenged and asked to leave.

A 90-year-old lady in Hawthorn Road, Great Cornard, was called upon between 4pm and 7pm by a man purporting to be from the gas board. While in the house a second man entered the property and took a quantity of cash. Both men were seen to run from the property.

Suffolk Police have a unit specialising purely in distraction burglaries, dedicated to detecting these crimes. Dc Neil Rumsey from the unit said: "We cannot emphasise enough to the elderly the importance of checking the identification of anyone who calls at their home."

Any calls relating to these incidents can be made to 01473 613882.