AN ELDERLY woman from Chalford Hill came close to being duped by an intruder masquerading as an official from a water board.

The man walked straight into the 86-year-old’s house in Burcombe Way through an insecure door on the side of her residence while she was at home with friends at about 7.30pm on Friday, April 1.

When the victim confronted the offender he told her that he needed her to fill the kettle up and empty the cupboard under the sink.

However when one of the woman’s friends came into the kitchen to ask if she was all right the man left the house, met up with a second man and the two of them jumped over a wall and ran off.

While the intruder left the house empty-handed, police have warned Stroud residents to be vigilant about bogus callers and to look out for their more vulnerable neighbours.

Gloucestershire Police's harm reduction advisor, Kim Mowday said: “This goes to show these people will try anything to trick their way into victim’s homes.

“These kinds of burglaries are always so despicable because the offenders deliberately target the most vulnerable members of society.

“We will, of course, do all we can to locate the offenders and to investigate this matter fully as we continue to crack down on distraction burglaries across Gloucestershire.

“I would urge members of the public to take extra care of their elderly neighbours simply by watching out for anyone suspicious loitering around or perhaps challenging someone you don’t recognise calling at an elderly neighbour’s house.

“Gloucestershire Constabulary is working with vulnerable and elderly people to make them aware of the methods of distraction burglaries and advise them what to do if a stranger calls, but we need your help.

“Working together we can ensure vulnerable members of our community are safe and those who prey on them are locked up.

"We would like to take this opportunity to urge the community to contact police immediately if they are suspicious of people calling at their house.

“We would much rather receive calls of suspicious circumstances that turn out to be legitimate than see the residents of Stroud become victims of bogus callers."

The force has issued some advice to help reduce the possibility of being targeted by such fraudsters:

• If someone knocks on your door check who it is by looking through a window or peep hole.

• If it is not someone you know or trust or a business caller who has made a pre-arranged appointment, do not open the door.

• This advice applies whatever uniform the caller appears to be wearing or ID card they are carrying and however urgent their business claims to be.

• Tell unexpected callers to leave and come back later at an agreed time when you can have someone with you.

• In the meantime, check their credentials by calling the organisation they claim to represent. Do so by looking up the number in the phone book rather than relying on the one on their card as this could simply put you through to an accomplice of a potential offender.

• Genuine staff from utility companies will not mind waiting while you do this or will call back later.

• Watch if the caller appears to be in a hurry and never feel pressured or embarrassed into letting someone in.

• The golden rule is: ‘if in doubt, keep them out’.

The offender who entered the property is described as wearing a black woolly hat and a black jacket and had his hands in his pockets the whole time.

He was thought to be anywhere between late 40s and early 60s in age.

The second man who did not enter the property was wearing a black jacket and was younger than the first man.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Police on 101, quoting incident number 463 of April 1.