HOME owners are being urged to check and double check the identification of all callers at their door after two elderly residents were visited by suspicious men claiming to be police officers.

Both incidents happened yesterday, Wednesday, March 23, with the first occurring at around 7.40pm when a 76-year-old Stonehouse man was called upon by a man who asked to be let into the home.

Later at around 8pm, two men also claiming to be police knocked on the door of an 89-year-old woman in Stroud.

Thankfully both residents refused entry and alerted police immediately.

Detective constable Leigh Bickerdyke said: "This goes to show these people will try anything to trick their way into victim’s homes.

"These kinds of incidents 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 these people and to investigate this matter fully as we continue to crack down on distraction burglaries.

"All Gloucestershire police officers will be more than happy for you to check their identification if they call at your home and we would like to urge all residents to take a good look at the identification of any business callers at their address."

Police have issued the following advice to residents who are worried about suspicious callers.

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

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

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

(e) 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 they give you.

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

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

(h) The golden rule is ‘if in doubt, keep them out’.

Anyone with any information about the incidents should contact police on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 433 of March 24.