VISITS by bogus callers and conmen to homes in the Petersfield area have raised alarm bells with police, who say residents should take extreme care before letting people into their houses.
On Saturday afternoon two men called at two houses in Town Lane. One of them was claiming to be an electricity board official.
He tricked his way into the homes by saying there was a problem with the electricity supply. One man searched the houses and made off with cash and cigarettes.
Another two men called at an elderly person's home in Hewshott Lane, Liphook, last Thursday, posing as flower delivery men. One of them was carrying a bunch of chrysanthemums.
A visitor at the house was suspicious and asked them who the flowers were for. The men said they would go back to their car to check but drove off in a forest green car.
Earlier this year, two intruders at a Liss home were tackled by 77-year-old villager Ethel O'Connor. The men were posing as water board officials.
Inspector Steve Sargent, of Petersfield, said people should never let anyone into their homes unless they were absolutely convinced of their identity.
He said: "The police have been trying to get this message over for years and we would stress it again in the light of these incidents.
"People should not let officials into their homes unless they are completely satisfied that they are genuine.
"This means not only looking at their identification but handling it as well, and if people are still unhappy they should call the official's head office.
He added: "We cannot stress too strongly that genuine officials will always be happy to wait or even come back on another day."
He said it was impossible to say whether the latest incidents were linked.
One offender at the incident in Sheet was said to be white, aged between 25 and 30, clean shaven and with short, dark hair that sticks up.
He was with a man of similar description but with short blond hair. Anyone with any information should contact Pc Hooper at Petersfield Police on 0845 0454545.