PEOPLE are being reminded not to let strangers into their homes after six incidents of bogus callers tricking their way into elderly people's homes and stealing cash within the space of five days.

Three of the incidents happened on Saturday in Dartford, Gravesend and Meopham, one took place in Dartford last Tuesday, while two others happened in Gravesend last Monday.

In all cases, men posing as workmen or utility officials conned their into the homes of elderly or vulnerable people.

The amount of cash stolen varied, but one 86-year-old woman in Dartford had a purse containing £500 taken. In another incident in Dartford, a 73-year-old woman found that £110 was missing.

Descriptions of the offenders vary. In two of the incidents in Gravesend, which took place just a few minutes apart, the bogus caller is described as white, aged in his 30s and between 5ft 8in and 6ft tall. He was unshaven, had brown hair and wore a checked shirt.

The other Gravesend burglary was carried out by two men described as black, aged between 20 and 25 and 5ft 9in tall. One had bushy black hair and the other was slim with cropped hair.

The incident in Meophan was also carried out by two men. Both are described as white, one was aged between 18 and 25 and the other between 29 and 34.

The man who stole £500 from the woman in Dartford was white, aged between 25 and 35, around 5ft 5in tall and muscular. He wore jeans and a grey T-shirt.

The trickster who took £110 in the same town was white, around 6ft tall and stocky. He had grey hair and wore a dark-blue jacket, checked shirt and dark trousers.

Det Insp Simon Thompson said: "Under no circumstances should you allow people into your house when you don't know who they are.

"Always ask for identification. If you're in doubt contact the caller's company or the police to verify the person's identity. If the person is genuine they won't mind waiting while you check them out."

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to contact police on 01474 565134 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.