CRIMINAL gangs have duped Bolton pensioners out of thousands of pounds in a spate of bogus official thefts.

Elderly residents across the town were targeted in a series of thefts yesterday in which homes were ransacked and cash snatched as the innocent victims spoke to fake gas board officials.

Five homes were set upon in a Crime wave aimed at Bolton's pensioners, with householders in Tonge Moor, Sharples, Halliwell and Great Lever having property stolen.

In one incident a couple in their late 70s who live in Sandham Walk, Great Lever, lost £3,000 after a man, with an Irish accent, claimed he had been called out to check electric lighting.

Elsewhere police received reports of four other incidents in which a man, again with an Irish accent, claimed to be a gas board representative, distracted Bolton pensioners while an accomplice ransacked their homes stealing money.

Last Saturday a 93-year-old woman's home was targeted in Tonge Moor, but the gang fled empty handed when the victim became suspicious.

Today a police spokesman confirmed that Victim Support is to offer counselling to all those elderly people affected.

He added: "All these people are very distressed by what has happened. It would fly in the face of common sense not to link these incidents although we are not ruling out any possibility.

"We would urge people to ensure that callers present their identification cards. If they have any doubts they should refuse to let them in and contact the police."

Detectives are also investigating two separate incidents in the Park Road area of Westhoughton in which bogus officials, who claimed to be delivering boxes of chocolates from a Salvation Army draw, escaped with £55 in cash.

Anyone who may have spotted anyone acting suspiciously in the areas at the time of the thefts is urged to contact Astley Bridge CID on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.