ELDERLY residents in Southampton are being urged to be on their guard after burglars posing as water engineers targeted three pensioners in the city in the space of two hours.

The so-called distraction burglars escaped with more than £1,000 from all three raids at properties in the Shirley and Lordshill areas of the city.

At about midday on Tuesday, a man claiming to be from the water board called on an elderly woman in Waterloo Road, and asked to check the water supply.

He distracted the woman by running taps in the house and when he left a short time later about £260 was found to be missing.

Two hours later two elderly woman at separate addresses in Pembrey Close, Lordshill, received similar doorstep calls from a man who said he needed to turn their water supply off.

He ran the taps in both houses before leaving. A short time afterwards they both discovered that money was missing, £500 is thought to have been taken from one woman and £230 from the other.

DC Heather Engley from Shirley CID said: "Unfortunately this type of burglary is not uncommon, and I would urge residents in Southampton to remain vigilant of any callers to their address.

"If someone says they are from a reputable company or organisation they will always have identification - Make sure you check it.

"If you have any doubts don't let them in, or close the door whilst you phone the organisation to make enquiries about their identity. Genuine callers will understand your concerns. If you are still in doubt phone the police."

Other advice to avoid becoming a victim of distraction burglaries given out as part of the Daily Echos Be On Your Guard campaign includes: Don't let anyone who you don't know, aren't expecting, or who can't provide proper identification, into your home, no matter what reason they give When making an appointment for someone to call on you at home ask for the name of the person who will be coming, so you know who to expect.