DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after elderly people were duped by bogus callers on Monday.

The pensioners were the victims of separate distraction burglaries in the Oakwood and Locking Stumps areas of the town.

In the first incident, two men 'lost their ball' in the back garden of a home in Forbes Close, Oakwood, at about 12.10pm.

One man distracted the elderly home owner while his accomplice searched the property, escaping with £170 in cash.

Both were described as white males in their early 20s and about 6ft tall. One of the men spoke with an Irish accent.

Bogus water officials escaped with £250 in cash and jewellery at 4pm from Heather Close in Locking Stumps.

They told the unsuspecting couple, who are in their 70s, that there was a water leak and they needed to check the supply.

As one man checked the kitchen taps, the second pocketed valuables. They were forced to flee after the owner became suspicious.

One of the offenders is described as white, aged in his late 20s, 5ft 10ins tall with dark, swept back hair which was parted at the sides.

A police spokesman said: "These are despicable crimes against pensioners and we need anybody who may have seen either pair of men around the time of the burglaries to call us."

Contact detectives on 652 222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with any information.

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