ELDERLY people in Christchurch were burgled after a man turned up at their home and asked to read their meter.

A large amount of cash was stolen from the residents' home in Bronte Avenue, off Fairmile Road, according to Dorset Police.

The burglary, which happened sometime between 1pm and 3pm on Thursday, August 8, caused both elderly victims "a great deal of upset and distress".

They received a knock at the door from a man who asked to read their boiler meter.

They led him through the house so he could access the meters in the garden.

However, when they reached the kitchen the man turned on the tap and claimed to have found the meter under the sink, which they knew was incorrect.

The man remained in the property for around 10 minutes before leaving via the front door.

A short time later the residents noticed that a large amount of cash had been stolen from the bedrooms.

Police Constable Louise Rowswell, of Christchurch police, said: “We believe this offence occurred while the occupants were distracted and someone else entered the property and stole the cash.

“This incident has caused both victims a great deal of upset and distress. We have carried out a number of house-to-house and CCTV enquiries in a bid to identify the offender or offenders but these have so far not been successful.

"I would urge anyone who was in the area at the relevant time and either saw or heard something suspicious or caught anything of relevance on dashcam to please contact Dorset Police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190123720.