TRICKSTERS posing as gas and water board officials targeted three pensioners' homes in Ipswich.A bogus caller conned his way into an elderly couple's home in Kildare Avenue pretending to be from the council and asking to check their gas and electric supplies.

By Amanda Cresswell

TRICKSTERS posing as gas and water board officials targeted three pensioners' homes in Ipswich.

A bogus caller conned his way into an elderly couple's home in Kildare Avenue pretending to be from the council and asking to check their gas and electric supplies.

While the couple were distracted their rooms were searched between noon and 1pm Thursday and the thief made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He is described as white, male, aged around 30 years, 5ft 5ins tall with cropped black hair. The offender was also wearing black trousers and a black jacket.

An hour later a man posing as a gas official talked his way into the home of a 93-year-old lady living in Turner Road.

The offender asked the woman to keep an eye on her oven and stole cash from her front room.

He is described as white male, 45 years, stocky build with dark hair. He wore a black three-quarter-length coat and black gloves.

At around 1.30 pm a 79-year-old man from Halton Crescent was conned by a bogus caller posing as a gas official.

As he distracted the pensioner a second man entered the house and stole cash from a front room.

Two men were seen walking away from the property. The first was a white male around 5 ft 6 ins, 25–30 years, short brown hair, slim build and was wearing a black jacket.

The second was white, 5 ft 7ins, 25–28 years and was also wearing black clothing.

Meanwhile in Bury St Edmunds cash and bank books were taken from a 66-year-old man in Wilcox Avenue at around 12.30 pm.

Police are urging people to remain vigilant and not to let unknown callers into their homes.