DISTRACTION burglars posing as neighbourhood watch members stole cash and jewellery from the home of an elderly couple in Hazlemere.

At 7pm on Wednesday, November 27, four men talked their way into a house in Park Lane.

They told the elderly couple that three of them were part of the neighbourhood watch scheme and the other man was a possible thief.

A large amount of cash and jewellery were stolen.

The first man is described as white, around 40 to 50-years-old, of medium build, a rugged appearance and a local accent. He was wearing a dark woolly hat, dark coloured zip up jacket and a dark scarf.

The second man is described as white, around 20-years-old, 5ft 10ins and of a slim build. He was wearing a dark woolly hat, a grey scarf, a dark zip up jacket, dark bottoms and trainers.

The other two men are also both white and were both wearing dark hats.

If you have any information please contact PC Mark Banham from High Wycombe police station via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Police have issued advice to help prevent distraction burglaries, under the slogan ‘Not sure, Don’t open the door’. Genuine visitors will not mind you telling them to return when you have a relative, or friend with you.

Follow the below advice and inform elderly relatives, neighbours and friends to protect them.

• Don’t be frightened to ask for identification and always check it carefully. If you’re not sure, don’t open the door. Ask them to return another day.

• Install a door chain and use it. Keep the door on the chain until you’ve seen identification.

• If you need your glasses to read the identification, close the door before going to find them. Don’t leave the door open and unattended.

• Remember to lock the back door before opening the front.

• Don’t be pressured into letting someone into your home if you have suspicions.

• Don’t keep large amounts of cash in the house.

• Don’t believe scare stories. Not all callers are genuine.