4 September 2010 Last updated at 08:38 ET

Warning after distraction burglaries in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Police are warning householders in the county to be wary after several distraction burglaries.

Detectives are investigating potential links after callers posing as gas, water, council or health officials targeted homes on Thursday and Friday.

In one case, jewellery was taken from a Grantham home after the 81-year-old resident was persuaded to let in four bogus gas officials.

Det Supt Paul Gibson said such thefts could have devastating consequences.

He said: "Distraction burglaries are most often committed against elderly or vulnerable individuals and this can cause people to suffer terribly, both emotionally and physically."

Det Supt Gibson also urged residents to check doorstep callers' identity and beware of fake IDs.

Bogus water officials called at properties in Lincoln and Stamford.

In Lincoln, money was discovered missing from a desk after a woman claiming to be from the NHS asked to be let in to the home of a disabled man to conduct a risk assessment for trip hazards.