POLICE today appealed for witnesses after a failed distraction burglary at the home of a 77-year-old woman in Oxford.

At 3.30pm on Tuesday, April 22, two men, believed to be local, called at a property in Priory Road, Littlemore, and told the woman resident that they were from the water company and need to check her taps.

She let them in, but became suspicious of their behaviour and when she found one of them in her bedroom she insisted they leave, which they did. She found they had rifled through a bag, but nothing had been stolen.

The first man was white, 5ft 10in to 6ft tall, in his late thirties, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a denim jacket and jeans. The second was white, 5ft 8ins, in his thirties, average build and had gelled, light brown, short hair. He was wearing khaki trousers and a sweatshirt.

Det Con Jim Holmes, of the Oxford Burglary Team, said: "This woman was very lucky not to have had anything stolen by these men and it seems she became suspicious just in time.

"I believe the men are local - they had Oxfordshire accents and when they made off from the property, they left on foot and did not leave in a vehicle. Which means you could know them - they could be somebody who drinks at your local or lives in your street. Distraction burglars are nasty, callous thieves who think that vulnerable people are fair game and we need to catch them.

"Perhaps these men called at your house in Littlemore or you saw them or in the area; or you might recognise their descriptions - if so, please get in touch.

"I also want to remind people to always check the ID of anyone who cold calls at your house. If you are not 100 per cent certain who they are, don't let them in."

Det Con Holmes can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don't want to talk to police and don't want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.