POLICE are appealing for information and urging the public to be vigilant after two distraction burglaries, one near Brackley and another in Aylesbury.

At about 3pm yesterday in Orchard Place, Westbury, near Brackley, a man came to the house stating he was carrying out work next door and asked the 87-year-old occupant if she could turn the water pressure down.

The resident said she would and as she went to close the front door he placed his leg in the door preventing her from doing so. The woman went inside and spoke to her husband who went and told the man to go away. He walked away from the house and the husband followed the man down the path where he saw a second man standing to the left waiting.

The man who went to the door was white, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 8in and of medium build. He was clean shaven with a clear complexion and in his early twenties. He was wearing a blue woolly hat, a dark sweater, blue jeans and brown clumpy boots.

The second man is white, between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 7ins and of medium build. He was clean shaven with light brown hair and he was wearing a jumper.

The burglary is being linked with another attempted burglary at about 9pm on Monday in Park Street, Aylesbury.

Det Con Andy Netting, from the Priority Crime Team, said: "There is no reason why a stranger should ever come into your home. All agencies or utility companies should make an appointment and also use a password system. It is important to know that there is no such thing as the water board.

"I would urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives, neighbours or carers to check their home security and alert them to the dangers of opening the door to a stranger."