TWO distraction burglaries on the same day have led detectives to appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact them.

The two incidents happened on Friday, March 9. The first was in Teston Road, Offham, near West Malling, between 10am and 10.15am when a man called at the home of a woman in her 80s.

He said he was from the water board and she needed to go to the kitchen to fill buckets with water as there was a problem with the supply. After the man left, the woman discovered cash had been taken from another room in the house.

The second incident happened in Wooodlands Road, Ditton, between 11.30am and 1pm, again at the home of a woman aged in her 80s. A man used a similar excuse to get in and after he had gone the woman discovered her pension book missing.

Det Con Helen King said: "If anyone thinks they may have information about these incidents we would be pleased to hear from them.

"While it is distressing to hear that these burglaries have occurred, it was more reassuring to learn that at about midday on the same day a man called on an elderly resident in Woodlands Road, Ditton, saying he was from the gas board.

The resident refused to let him in and not surprisingly the man went away and did not return. This is exactly the right approach to take with unexpected callers."

Anyone with information can contact police on 01732 379217 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.