Residents across Wolverhampton are being urged to be on their guard against distraction burglars who are claiming to be police officers.

Elderly victims were targeted in two separate burglaries yesterday (Tuesday 22 January) and detectives are investigating whether the same gang were involved. Reassurance patrols have been stepped up and officers are urging people to be vigilant and always check for identification.

The first distraction burglary happened in Greenly Road, Goldthorn Park, around 6.30pm when two men knocked on the door of an 88-year-old woman saying they were doing an area search. They then rummaged through the home and took a quantity of cash.

In the second burglary on Hadley Road, Bilston, four men claiming to be PCs entered the property of an 80-year-old man at 9pm and made off with money.

Officers are also probing whether there is a link with another attempted burglary in Regis Road, Tettenhall, at around 8pm. An 89-year-old woman was disturbed by four men in her property who are then believed to have fled empty-handed. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Chisholm, from Wolverhampton police, said:

“These are incredibly serious offences where cowardly burglars have preyed on elderly victims. We are working hard to find out who is responsible and will do all that we can to protect those who are most vulnerable in our communities. 

"I would ask people to be vigilant, particularly if people attend an address without prior arrangement and claim to be police officers.
 
"Officers will normally be in uniform and arrive in a marked police vehicle, if in doubt do not open the door, request their name and number and contact 101 to ensure they are legitimate.”

Anyone with information can contact officers via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.