RESIDENTS of Holcombe Brook and Summerseat are being warned to be extra vigilant when opening the door to strangers following a spate of robberies by thieves who barged into the house.

In the last two weeks, four households - all belonging to elderly pensioners - have been targeted in what is believed to be a series of linked attacks.

One incident in Pot Green, Holcombe Brook, involved a man tapping on the window and door to attract attention and, when the resident came to investigate the noise, the thief barged in and stole cash.

Two days earlier, another homeowner in nearby Summerseat Lane fell victim after opening the door to a man asking to borrow a piece of paper to leave a note for the neighbour. When the pensioner went back into the house for the stationery, he was followed and robbed. In a similar incident in Springwood Street, Ramsbottom, on December 30, an elderly resident was called to the door and the thief forced his way in and stole cash.

Inspector Steve Clark said: "There has been a series of cases where people have gone to houses where elderly people live and have gained entry and taken various bits of property from them, usually cash. It has happened more and more over the past couple of weeks, concentrated in that area. This is being looked at by our burglary unit to try to pick out the identity of the offenders."

Residents are being urged to put the door chain on before opening the door and to ask for identification from anyone they are unsure of.

Insp Clark added: "If you have any doubt at all that anybody is from a genuine organisation, such as the gas board, police or council, we would welcome a phone call to check. We would rather have a quick phone call to check the caller is genuine rather than deal with another robbery."

The Ramsbottom policing team can be contacted on (0161) 856 8181.