Five homes targeted by bogus callers

Pensioners have had cash, bank books and personal items stolen in distraction burglaries in the Black Country.

Five pensioners, the oldest being an 88-year-old woman, have been targeted in a week.

Callers posing as officials from Sandwell Homes, the police and the water board have hit houses in Smethwick, Rowley Regis, Tipton and Tividale.

An 88-year-old woman in Rowley Regis visited by a man claiming to be from Sandwell Homes. A postal deposit book was stolen. The caller is described as white, 20 to 30, with short hair.

An 86-year-old woman in Smethwick was visited by a man claiming to be from the water board. The offender was white, slim and about 20 to 25. He left empty handed.

A man targeted an 85-year-old woman in Tividale posing as a police officer but she did not let him in.

A man claiming to be a police officer called on an 81-year-old woman in Tipton. He is described as white and 20 to 28. Nothing was stolen.

Finally, a 79-year-old man in Smethwick was targeted by a man claiming to be from the water board. A second man stole a sum of money.