CRIMINALS have been urged to help catch bogus officials who struck seven times in just over two hours.

Detective Inspector Neil Hunter, of Blackburn Police, said he hoped the "despicable nature" of the crimes -- all of which targeted the elderly -- would lead to fellow crooks supplying information.

More than £300 was taken from one house on Thursday and a camera from another. DI Hunter said there may be more which have not been reported.

He said the men must be stopped before a serious incident occurred.

"The people who commit these type of offences have to understand the effect they have on the victims.

"One of the victims may also try and defend themselves and these crimes need to stop before it turns into something more serious than just a burglary."

DI Hunter believes the same three men were responsible for the offences and is not ruling out linking them to similar offences in Blackburn over the past month or so.

Each time the men pretend to be from the water board and use various excuses to try to gain entry. While one man distracts the homeowner, the other two ransack the house looking for valuables.

And he hope the conscience of other criminals would be pricked by these men's actions.

He said: "I would like to think that members of the criminal fraternity will be just as disgusted as I am at those who target and rob from the elderly and vulnerable.

"These men have waged a carefully constructed campaign on people who may not be able to defend themselves and stopping them is vital."

The offenders were described as white males, aged in their late 20, early 30s. One had a moustache and goatee beard and wore a long-sleeved blue shirt with a tie and dark pants. The second wore a light-coloured shirt and had ginger or sandy hair. The third was said to be wearing a dark thigh-length anorak or fleece, with yellow piping.

If anybody has any information they should contact Blackburn CID on 01254 353569 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The houses targeted were; Chatburn Road at 11.15am; Sandpiper Close, at 11.40am; Lynwood Road, at 12pm; Wensley Road, 12.51pm; Hollin Street, 12.55pm, Whitby Drive, 1.35pm and Didsbury Street at 2.20pm.