CIRENCESTER residents have been warned to be vigilant against bogus callers after an elderly couple were burgled yesterday.

The reminder from Cirencester police follows a theft of £300 by two men from a home at Bowling Green Crescent yesterday afternoon.

At around 4.40pm, a man visited the elderly couple’s home and said another house in the area was having problems with the boiler and he needed to check the pipes of all homes in the area.

The man was allowed into the house by the homeowners and while he was looking at taps in the kitchen, the couple found another man had entered their living room.

When questioned, both men left but the couple discovered soon afterwards that £300 in cash had been stolen.

The men were described as:

* A white man in his late teens and around 5ft 9” tall with short brown hair. He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and trousers.

* A white man, tall and wearing dark clothing. He had “scruffy” hair and stubble.

Anyone who saw individuals matching these descriptions in the area yesterday afternoon are asked to contact Gloucestershire Police by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 311 of November 28.

You can also give information anonymously by contacting the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Police are also urging the community to contact them immediately if they are suspicious of people calling at their home and advising residents to follow some simple crime prevention steps to take if they have unplanned callers at their home:

* If a business caller comes to your home without making an appointment keep the door shut, even if the caller appears to look official or presents ID

* Check their story by phoning the organisation they claim to represent. Look up the number in your telephone book rather than relying on the one on their card when you do this. No representative of a legitimate organisation will mind at all waiting while you do this.

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

* Call the Police if you are suspicious of unexpected business visitors.