THREE pensioners have been targeted by people claiming to be from a water company.

Sussex Police believe the incidents are connected and are warning home owners to be on their guard.

In the most recent incident, on September 13, an 87-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and hit her head as she tried to stop a man claiming to be from the water board from leaving her house in Summerheath Road, Hailsham, with her handbag.

In another incident on September 7 in Colwood Crescent, Eastbourne, an 87-year-old woman answered the door to a man claiming to be from the water board.

He said he needed to check her water and, without asking, went into her home.

She went to get help but he ran past her from the house with two handbags which contained cash.

Two days later a man pushed his way into the flat of a 78-year-old in Avard Crescent, Eastbourne, and stole a handbag containing money and a birth certificate.

The caller at Summerheath Road was white, about 50, clean shaven with a northern accent. He was wearing a quilted blue jacket and a black baseball cap.

Anyone with information can visit sussex.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Inroad.