POLICE today praised the actions of a Needham Market pensioner after he fended off a potential distraction burglar.The man in his 70s, who lives in Quinton Road, refused to entry to a caller who claimed he needed to carry out water repair works at his home.

POLICE today praised the actions of a Needham Market pensioner after he fended off a potential distraction burglar.

The man in his 70s, who lives in Quinton Road, refused to entry to a caller who claimed he needed to carry out water repair works at his home.

Using his door chain, the resident turned the man away after he failed to produce an identification card.

He also switched on his outside light but then closed the door and called police.

It is believed the same man had gone to the rear door of the address and tried to enter before calling at the front.

A police spokesman said the resident took all the appropriate actions and advised others to do the same.

He said residents should always check the identity of callers before agreeing to let them do work at their home.

The offender is described as white, around 5ft 9in, of average built and in his 30s. He has an oval-shaped face with short brown hair swept over to the left.

He was wearing a long-sleeved jumper with vertical stripes and light grey trousers.

Police also received a call to Stowmarket, at around 11.30am on Monday, after fears two bogus callers were operating in the town.

Suffolk Constabulary's helicopter was scrambled but it turned out to be a false alarm.

A member of the public had alerted the police after becoming suspicious about two men trying to read a meter at an unoccupied house in Station Road East.

The pair were eventually identified as genuine, but a spokeswoman for Anglian Water said the caller did the right thing.

She urged customers to check the identity of people claiming to be from the water board and to report any suspicious activity.