Detectives today refused to rule out links between a spate of burglaries involving conmen operating in the Black Country and Birmingham.

There has been a number of residents who have been hit by doorstep burglars in recent weeks, with most of the vulnerable victims in their 70s, 80s and 90s.

Today police spokeswoman Aneka Anderson said officers were still working to establish any possible links between crimes but could not rule out they were connected.

In a burglary on August 3 a man claiming to be from BT phoned a 90-year-old widow at her home in West Bromwich, telling her she owed the company £6.

He then turned up at her home at 8.30pm holding a chip-and-pin machine and a total of £500 was withdrawn from her account.

In other burglaries conmen have claimed to be from the water board.

On August 26 an 86-year-old woman had cash and jewellery taken from her home in Rowley Regis.

Distraction burglaries have also taken place in Walsall, Halesowen and Dudley.

Pc Anthony Jones, who works with CID, said: “Detectives are investigating reports of distraction burglaries that have occurred in the Black Country and Birmingham.

“Increased patrols are being conducted to provide reassurance.”