POLICE believe two cases of 'bogus callers' at two separate addresses, on the same day, could be linked.

In the first incident at about 12.30pm on Tuesday, October 5, a man approached a 74-year-old woman as she brushed the path outside her home in Hammill Street, Windlehurst and told her the water was being turned off.

He offered to help her fill some buckets and followed her into the kitchen. As they chatted the woman became uneasy and decided to check upstairs but found nothing.

A short while after she looked up to see a second man on the landing. When she challenged him, both men ran out of the front door.

The woman later discovered that upstairs drawers and cupboards had been rifled through.

The man who spoke to the pensioner is described as 6ft tall with a thin build, aged about 20 years, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a baggy, bluey/green T-shirt and jeans, and spoke with a local accent. The second man was about 5ft 6in tall, stocky build, with short hair and he was wearing a black jumper.

Then about 45 minutes later in Dunmail Avenue, Clinkham Wood, a 78-year-old woman answered the door to a man who said their had been a water burst and he needed to check the meter while she filled some pans.

While they were in the kitchen the woman heard a noise upstairs and said she was going to fetch a neighbour. A second man then ran down the stairs and the two men escaped through the front door and headed towards the Saracen's Head pub,

The man who knocked at the door is described as white, 20 years, slim build, wearing a yellow top. He spoke with a local accent. The man who ran down the stairs was about 5ft 6in tall and wearing a yellow top.

Nothing was stolen in either incident but anyone who can help police with their inquiries can contact DC Allan Pennington at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6064, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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