VULNERABLE women were tricked into handing over substantial sums of cash to intruders in their homes, police said.

Chief Inspector Colin Seaton, Wycombe’s Deputy Area Commander, called the two targeted attacks “despicable and disgusting”.

An 84-year-old woman was putting on her tights in her home in Goodacres Lane, Lacey Green, between 3pm and 8.45pm on January 8 when an intruder entered the room, police said.

Officers said he helped the bed-bound woman get dressed and then told her he was there to take her money.

The woman, who police say was disorientated at the time, told him it was in her purse in the kitchen. He took £240 cash from her purse and left.

Police said the woman was unable to give a description of the man.

And then on Monday, January 13, an 87-year-old woman was in bed in her home in The Crescent in High Wycombe when she heard a noise at about 8.30pm.

She got up to investigate and saw a man attempting to leave out of the bathroom window when a second man approached her and asked where her money was kept.

After she told the intruder it was under a mattress, police said the man led her to the bed by her arm and lifted up the mattress, before leaving with about £1000 in cash.

Police said the elderly woman was then awoken at some point later the same night to see a man stood in her bedroom.

He told her that he was ‘there to put something back’ and went in to a drawer before leaving the property in Totteridge.

The second man is described as a clean shaven white male, 40-50 years old, about 5ft 6” tall of slight build with a local accent.

He was wearing a blue woollen hat and navy overalls, police said.

Ch Insp Seaton said police are keeping an open mind but his investigators believe the two incidents could be linked.

He said: “These are two disgusting and despicable acts. Taking advantage of elderly and vulnerable people is as low as crime can get.

“The people responsible must be someone’s son, brother or father and so someone must know who is responsible for committing these crimes and we would really like to hear from these people.”

Contact police on the non-emergency 101 enquiry line or contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.