A woman conned her way into the homes of elderly people to steal cash from them.

Dianne Daniels, 21, of Nuffield Close, Didcot, admitted three distraction burglaries, an attempted burglary and obtaining £950 by deception from the Didcot branch of Abbey National, at Didcot Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said Daniels gained access to housing association flats and a retirement flat in the town by claiming she was starting work there in the New Year.

She said on December 17, Daniels called at a flat at Royal Berkshire Court, Green Close, where she was given a cup of tea by a 79-year-old resident. The occupier of the flat later found £25 had been stolen. The following day, Daniels stole £120 from a resident of Marlborough Court, off Fairacres Road. On Christmas Day, she tricked her way into a house in Queensway, Didcot, by claiming she was visiting a great aunt but had arrived early. She asked to use the lavatory before leaving.

The next day, the householder discovered her husband's wallet containing £60 was missing from his armchair.

Both Court Housing Association, which owns Royal Berkshire Court, and Peverel Management Services, which is responsible for Marlborough Court, said security was a high priority and had been reviewed since the burglaries. Tony Nash, the director of Court Housing Association, said: "The doors at Royal Berkshire Court are always locked and there is CCTV surveillance of visitors and a 24-hour warden service."

However, he said residents were able to admit their own visitors. They were warned to be careful, but no system was foolproof. Peverel spokesman Steve Cieslik said that distraction burglaries at their residential developments were rare. Marlborough Court had a resident house manager and the main door was always locked.

However, following these incidents, he said a meeting was being arranged with residents to discuss security.

Daniels was remanded in custody for sentence at Oxford Crown Court. Her solicitor, Kate McNab, made no application for bail.