THE police are urging people not to keep large amounts of money at home, following an outbreak of distraction burglaries in parts of south Oxfordshire.

The latest victim was a pensioner in St Michael's Way, Steventon, near Abingdon.

Several hundred pounds were stolen by a man posing as a water company official.

The man was white but the woman, who has not been identified, was unable to give police a description or tell them if he used a vehicle.

In a separate incident, two young men posing as policemen stole £900 from the home of a Didcot woman.

Police said the 59-year-old woman discovered the men in her house at Laburnum Grove between 8.30am and 9pm on Tuesday.

It is believed the men, both in their 20s and wearing dark clothing, got into the house through an insecure rear window.

A police spokesman said: "They tried to convince her they were police officers, saying they had just stopped a lad with cash on him and wanted to find out if she had been the victim of a burglary."

Pc Andy Shuker, of Didcot Police, said: "Although no violence was used in the burglary, this was still a nasty incident."

Det Insp David McCorkell, of Abingdon CID, said: "I plead with people to keep large sums in a bank or post office and not at home."

Anyone with information about either crime should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.