POLICE are urging people to be extra vigilant following a string of distraction burglaries across Gwent this month.

Six separate incidents have been reported in Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, and Blaenau Gwent, with the same distraction method used in each.

A number of men have been reported knocking on the doors of elderly residents and claiming that a sister or a daughter had caused damage to their property.

On June 16, a man called on the home of a 69-year-old woman on Heol Barri, Caerphilly wanting to check damage to the occupant's greenhouse which he said was damaged by his sister's catapult.

The occupant didn't own a greenhouse and became suspicious, asked the man to leave and nothing was stolen.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 549 16/06/16.

On the same day a man approached a woman in her front garden on Wingfield Crescent, Llanbradach asking to check damage caused to her rear windows by his daughter.

After following the woman inside her home and leaving, the woman discovered that a quantity of cash was missing from the address.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 187 16/06/16.

On June 23, a woman from Heol Isaf, Nelson, had a similar experience but refused access to the man after discovering that there was no damage.

Later that day, jewellery was stolen from the home of a 95-year-old woman on Newport Road, Magor after two men entered her house.

One of the men is described as in his late teens or early twenties, around five feet eight inches tall and of slim build with dark blonde hair and a local accent.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 430 23/06/16.

At around 12pm on June 24 cash and jewellery from the home of an 89 year old woman on Tydfil Road, Bedwas.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 222 24/06/16.

At 1.10pm on the same day, a safe was stolen from the home of a 77-year-old woman on Gladstone Street, Abertillery.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting log 259 24/06/16.

DS Michelle Chaplin said; "These are despicable crimes that prey on the elderly and vulnerable. An investigation into all these incidents is currently ongoing, but in the meantime I would ask residents to be extra vigilant and keep an eye out for their neighbours."