Elderly residents have been warned to be wary of bogus callers after a series of burglaries in the district.

Police have warned people to be wary if approached by men asking to check their water pressure or water meters following incidents over the last four weeks.

And they have urged people always to ask for identity cards of anyone wanting to check water and, if they are at all suspicious, ask them to go away and make an appointment.

It follows four burglaries, one in Windhill, on Tuesday, another in Steeton, on Sunday, one in Ilkley, on Saturday, September 18, and one in Bradford, on Monday, September 6.

Two men have usually gone to the homes with one distracting the owner while the other searches the property.

In the latest incident, at Gaisby Mount, Windhill, a man approached the home owner, an 81-year-old man, and asked to check water pipes under the sink saying a mains pipe had burst up the road.

When he got inside he was in and out of the kitchen and is believed to have searched the property.

After he left the victim realised a quantity of cash had been taken.

The suspect was white, aged 18 to 20, thin and about 5ft 10ins tall with short curly black hair. He was wearing a blue top with a blue L-shaped logo on it.

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “We are linking four distraction burglaries which have taken place over the last month and are advising residents to be extremely cautious if approached by one or two men asking to check water pipes.

“These individuals appear to be targeting elderly or vulnerable residents and we would like to remind people they are perfectly entitled to refuse cold callers access to their homes.

“If you have any suspicions at all about a caller, ask for their contact details and ID and ask them to ring back and make an appointment.”

Yorkshire Water security manager Stuart Briggs said: “Because we always inform our customers what we are doing, the majority of people in any area will know we are there.

“But as well as alerting our customers to our work, it can also alert criminals who then pose as our employees and make excuses – sometimes very plausible ones – that they need to get into homes or businesses for a variety of reasons.

“All our employees and contractors carry identification cards and genuine callers don’t mind being asked to prove who they are.

“We urge all our customers not to let any stranger into their homes or premises without being entirely satisfied as to the identity of the caller.

“If someone claims to be from Yorkshire Water ask for their identity card, take it, close and lock your door, then call us on 0845 1 242424 for verification.

“If they aren’t who they claim to be then call the police. Under no circumstances let them in without first checking.”

Anyone with information, or who witnessed the incident in Windhill, should contact Airedale and North Bradford CID on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.