Please be aware of a distraction burglary that happened in the Wistaston Road area of Willaston at approx 14:30 on 14/04/2011:

An unknown male approaches property, knocks on the door and tells elderly occupant that he is from the Water Board and needs to check the pipes in the property. The offender is let into the property and takes the resident into a ground floor bathroom at rear of property. The resident is asked to turn the cold tap on and keep their hand under it while it runs. During this time a second offender enters the property via the front door and steals cash from a drawer in the living room. Offenders make off on foot down road, unknown if transport used.

The first male is described as being white male, in his 30's, stocky build wearing a light coloured shirt, dark trousers. Male didn't have a local accent but unconfirmed what area accent was from. Described as being smartly dressed and charming in manner.

The second male was only seen from behind as he walked away and is described as wearing a dark coloured jacket and dark trousers.

Please make members aware of this incident and ask that an eye is kept on any vulnerable members in your scheme. The Water Board cover is one of the most commonly used ways of gaining entry into homes as often older people, who remember the Water Board as an organisation are targeted. Please remind members that there is no longer such an organisation and the current water companies would rarely need to knock on people's doors for the purpose of checking out things within a property. The majority of water, gas and electric companies do have a password system in place that they are keen for customers to sign up to in order to protect them from bogus callers. This allows residents to agree a predetermined password that any genuine caller from such a company would have to hand when they approached you property or could certainly obtain if required. You should be able to obtain details of this scheme from the customer services department of the relevant company.

If anyone receives a similar call at their door, has noticed any suspicious or out or the ordinary behaviour in their area or have information that might be relevant to this particular incident please contact the police asap via 0845 458 0000. If anyone has any anonymous information that they wish to submit call Cheshire Crime Stoppers via 0800 555 111.