PENSIONERS across the borough have suffered again at the hands of conmen.

Police are hunting a man and woman who they believe are responsible for two botched distraction burglaries.

The duo first struck at 2pm on Thursday (Feb 27) when they tried to steal from a Whitefield pensioner's home. The couple tricked their way into the 81-year-old's house in Westminster Avenue after claiming to work for United Utilities.

They fled empty handed when their victim became suspicious and rang United Utilities to check their credentials.

They used a similar excuse at 5pm on Friday (Feb 28) when they tried to con their way into a house in Parkhills Road, Bury. Again, the elderly residents became suspicious and would not let them in.

The man was described as white, aged in his 20s, with long, dark hair scraped back. His accomplice was also white, 5ft 5in, with long black hair. She wore a floral dress and a blue coat.

In another incident, two men claimed they were working for Dyno-Rod to trick their way into the home of a 79-year-old pensioner in Forth Road, Bury.

While one of the men distracted the woman, his accomplice searched several rooms but fled empty handed.

The first offender was white, 5ft 9in, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, with short, brown hair and spoke with a southern accent. He was wearing a blue waist-length anorak with a shirt and tie.

His accomplice was white, 5ft 4in, in his late 20s, of stocky build, clean shaven. He wore a cloth cap and a brown jumper. The pair were seen walking away with another man.

In a further deception, a thief posing as a water board official escaped with £100 in cash from the home of a 94-year-old woman.

The burglary happened at 2.45pm on Saturday (March 1) in Beckenham Close, Bury. The offender had asked the woman if he could check her water supply and sat talking with her. It was only after he left that his victim realised her money had been taken. The thief is white, aged in his late 20s, 5ft 8in, with short, dark hair. He was clean shaven and wore dark clothes. Witnesses should contact Bury CID on 856 8150, or Whitefield police on 856 8248.