Detectives are warning residents to be on their guard after the latest in a series of burglaries in which residents are distracted.

It happened in London Road, Dover, on Tuesday when a man knocked on a door of an elderly couple’s home at about 8.15pm.

The man claimed to be from a water company and told the couple, who were in their 70s, that there was a problem with their water system. He did not show them any form of identification.

The caller was let into the property and appeared to close the door. But it is thought the man did not securely shut the door which allowed a second man to enter the home. Both men left the property together when the residents saw the second man. A number of items were reported stolen, including a purse and £200 worth of cash.

The first suspect is described as a white man, aged 18 to 24, about 5ft 4in tall, short brown hair, clean shaven and of medium build. He was wearing a plain light coloured long sleeved shirt and light coloured trousers.

The second suspect is described as a white man, aged about 40, 5ft 8in tall, short brown hair, clean shaven, of stocky build and was wearing a black anorak and dark coloured trousers.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident or other recent incidents in the east of the county are asked to contact Det Sgt Pip Richardson at Kent Police by calling 101.

Police say there have been a series of distraction burglaries across east Kent.