A DETECTIVE today appealed for pensioners to be vigilant after the twelfth 'distraction' burglary on an elderly person's home in just over a month.

Det Insp Neil Hunter said that anyone in doubt at the identity of an unexpected caller could even ask the police to come and check the person.

The latest incident happened in Darwen town centre near the Circus, as a 90-year-old woman was sweeping up leaves outside her home. A woman approached her and asked to use the toilet. The man she was with waited outside and chatted to the pensioner.

After several minutes, the elderly woman became concerned and went inside, scaring off the burglar who fled. It was later discovered she had taken what police described as a "considerable" amount of cash. Earlier this week detectives took the unusual step of naming Jimmy Evans, 34, of no fixed address, as the man they want to question in connection with four incidents in the Knuzden area of Blackburn in late August.

Each time a man tricked his way into a pensioner's home and assaulted a 76-year-old woman after threatening her with a knife. He has still not been traced. On September 19, seven homes of elderly people in Blackburn were targeted by a group of three carrying out "bogus calls" and stealing cash and property. Although none of the previous incidents was being linked to the new Darwen incident, DI Hunter said the trend was worrying.

"There seems to be a run on them at the moment," he said. "Last week I was encouraged that in five of the incidents, they didn't get in as the occupants, despite being elderly and frightened, did challenge the offenders for identification. That shows the message might have been getting through.

"But people need to be reminded that they should ask for identification, or for a relative or friend to come. They can even call the police and we will come down to check as a matter of urgency. People have to be on their guard.

"Of all the offences of burglary we deal with, those where people are prepared to home in on the vulnerable and elderly are the most despicable."

The man in the Darwen incident was said to be white, 5ft 9in with light short hair, of slim build and with a local accent. The woman was around 5ft 6in, slim with a missing front tooth and blonde hair.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Darwen police.