A Gravesend pensioner has had cash stolen from her house by a man claiming to need to check her water.

The woman, who is in her 80s, was targeted at her home in Elm Road by a man who claimed to be doing work on a broken water pipe nearby.

The victim let the burglar into her house after being told that he needed to check her water.

He stayed with the her but after he left she noticed that her door had been damaged and an untidy search had taken place upstairs.

Her purse, containing £50 cash, had been stolen.

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A string of similar incidents have happened across Kent in Sittingbourne and Chatham.

Kent Police say they have not ruled out the possibility that all of these cases are linked.

Detective Sergeant Chris Dovey, of Kent Police’s burglary team, said: "A cold caller is someone who turns up at your home unannounced.

"While most will be genuine, some try to trick their way into your home to steal your valuable items; this technique is called distraction burglary.

"To avoid becoming a victim of distraction burglary, always check the identity of anyone claiming to be carrying out works and needing access to your property.

"If you’re unsure, shut the door and phone the company to check that they are legitimate."