Three women, including one in her 90s and another in her 80s, have been targeted by conmen just a fortnight after the launch of a campaign warning people of the dangers.

A Banbury woman, who does not want to be identified, was approached by two bogus water board officials at her home in the Grimsbury district. They escaped with a box containing £100.

They called at the house at 5pm on Monday (August 10) and one of the men insisted on checking the water pipes.

A police spokesman said: "He was asked for identity card, didn't have any and was told to leave.

"A search of the house shortly afterwards showed a second intruder had stolen a box containing £100."

The men were both white, one about 5ft 6ins tall, the other short with dark hair and wearing a shirt and dark trousers.

An 86-year-old Bicester woman was conned out of £60 after being approached by two men outside Tesco, in Sheep Street, Bicester, last Friday morning (August 7).

While one man spoke to her the other was able to steal her purse which contained the cash.

In the third burglary, two men, posing as water board officials, escaped empty handed after being challenged for ID in Chipping Norton. They called at the house in Hailey Road at 2pm on Monday (August 10) but the woman refused to let them in.

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