POLICE are investigating two crimes where bogus callers have targeted elderly residents in sheltered accommodation.

Two men claiming to be police officers entered an 83-year-old woman's flat at Hanover Court, Whitegates Close, Hythe, on Friday at 4.45pm.

They claimed some money had been found and asked her where she kept her cash. The men left when she made it clear she did not have cash in her flat.

Both offenders are described as white men. One was aged in his early 30s, 5ft 9in tall, of slim build, with short dark hair. The other was younger than the first man and of chubbier build with short dark hair.

An hour later, at 5.45pm, an 86-year-old partially sighted man was tricked into letting two men into his flat at John Bowley House in Cheriton Road, Folkestone, after they told him they needed to get in to turn off the water supply as his neighbour had a burst pipe.

When the men had gone the resident noticed around £1000 cash had been taken.

The victim has managed to describe one of the offenders as a white man, 5ft 9in tall, aged in his early to mid 20s, of slim build, with dark hair, and was wearing a dark blue suit and was very well dressed.

Sgt Gerry Meers from the neighbourhood policing unit said: "These sorts of crimes are despicable as the offenders target the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community."

"Police community support officers have been in the areas where these offences occurred to hand out leaflets and give advice to residents about not letting anyone into their home without double checking the identity of each caller first.

"It would be helpful if people with elderly relatives and neighbours could remind them to do the same."

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Nick Houghton at Folkestone Police Station on 01303 850055 or call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.