Police warn of Shropshire conman caller

A man pretending to be a water board official talked his way into the homes of two elderly women in Shropshire and stole cash, police said today.

The distraction burglaries happened within two hours of each other in Wem and Clive on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers are urging people to be on their guard against doorstep callers after the man fled with more than £40 from the women, who were both in their late 70s.

In both instances the man claimed there was a problem with the water supply.

The burglaries happened in Quarry View, Clive, between noon and 1pm, and Roden Grove, Wem, between 1.30pm and 2.20pm.

He checked the water which involved turning on taps and flushing the toilet.

In Clive the owner found a bedroom had been searched but nothing had been taken.

In Wem, the woman discovered cash had been stolen from a bedside cabinet and about £40 had been taken from her purse.