A GANG targeting the elderly and vulnerable are being blamed for a spate of distraction burglaries, including one in which a pensioner lost her life savings.

Frail 79-year-old grandmother Lilian Mortimore was pushed to the floor of her Chippenham home as intruders made off with over £5,000 she had been saving to give to her sons.

She said: "Every week when I got my pension I'd put £20 away for my sons. I know I am never going to get it back."

The pensioner, pictured right, refuses to be beaten by the trauma and said she plans to start saving again.

"They may have taken the money but at least they didn't harm me. They were strapping lads and they could have caused some damage.

"What happened was absolutely dreadful. I keep thinking Oh, why do people do things like this'." she said.

Mrs Mortimore was duped into letting the men into her home at Oaklands when they told her they were water board officials come to turn off her supply.

Once they were inside they pushed her over and ransacked her bedroom, making off with the money, which she had been saving for 14 years.

The incident, which happened just after 6pm on Monday, came shortly after three similar distraction burglaries at the River House sheltered accommodation in St Mary's Lane.

One or possibly two men, using the same water board story, tried to gain access to three homes and were allowed into two of them.

They then searched the rooms, but it is thought they ran off without taking anything.

Carol Davidson, older persons services manager for Westlea Housing, which owns the complex, said: "Although it seems that nothing was stolen we are obviously concerned that these intruders were able to gain access to River House and to some residents' flats.

"We encourage all residents to take security issues seriously and stress how important it is that they don't let anyone into the premises or their own flat unless they are certain of that person's identity."

Police believe the same men are responsible for all the incidents, as well as another three in Calne and one in Cricklade.

Pc Sam Withey, stationed at Chippenham, said: "Obviously we are very concerned that these happened in broad daylight and the victims were chosen simply because they are vulnerable members of society."

One of the men they are looking for is described as in his 30s or 40s, 6ft tall, with short, dark hair. He spoke with a foreign, possibly eastern European, accent. Anyone with any information can contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 4087000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.