Woman has purse stolen as distraction burglars target Stoke-on-Trent homes
Staffordshire Police are asking people to help look after the elderly and vulnerable following the incidents in Smallthorne and Meir
Bogus officials targeted at least two people in the city yesterday
Distraction burglars stole a woman's purse during after tricking her into letting them into her home.
The men told the woman, from Saturn Road, Smallthorne, they were from the non-existent Water Board.
One of them then distracted the woman by telling her water was contaminated while the other searched her house and stole her purse.
A second similar incident occurred on George Avenue in Meir, but nothing is believed to have been stolen.
Both incidents occurred yesterday and Staffordshire Police said they were keen to prevent similar burglaries taking place again.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "If you live in the Stoke-on-Trent area, please alert vulnerable or elderly neighbours or relatives to not let strangers in without ID.
"We've had two reports from yesterday of two men pretending to be from the Water Board and then whilst one distracts the resident by claiming their water may be contaminated, the other searches the house for valuables.
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"We have officers investigating, but we are keen to avoid any further distraction burglaries occurring.
"If you see anything like this or know anything about the incidents, please call 101 quoting incident numbers 417 or 710 of February 23."
Smallthorne