distraction burglaries in the High Peak

At around 3.15pm on Friday, March 4, a man sneaked into a house in Glossop Road, Gamesley, while the homeowners were inside.

He began talking to the 60-year-old woman about garden work he wanted to do at the property and they went to look at the front garden together. She then became aware of a second man in the kitchen. They spoke for a few minutes before the two men left.

The couple later realised the upstairs of the house had been searched and a handbag and two rings had been stolen.

The first man is described as white, about 5ft 7ins tall with short, dark hair. He was wearing dark clothing. The man in the kitchen was white, slightly shorter, with dark hair and dark clothes.

A second distraction burglary took place at Buxton Road, Furness Vale, at around 4.30pm the same afternoon.

A 66-year-old woman answered her back door to an Eastern European man who offered to carry out gardening work for her. He was about 5ft 10ins tall, slim, with dark curly hair. He wore a green sweater.

While they were speaking, she released a second Eastern European man was in the house. The pair left together, walking toward the centre of Furness Vale.

The victim later found her handbag, which contained a mobile phone and cash, had been stolen.

Another distraction burglary took place at 5.30pm in Thornsett Avenue, Buxton. Two men visited the home of an elderly couple, claming to be from the water board. They entered the house and stole cash and two handbags.

One man was white and aged about 20. He was 5ft 10ins tall and had fair hair. The other man was white, in his late teens, slim and about 5ft 8ins tall. He also had fair hair.

Community Safety Inspector Tony Dales said: Never let an unexpected caller into your home without checking their identity first. Genuine callers will be happy to wait outside while you contact the company they claim to be from.

 “If you are still unsure, ask them to come back when you have a friend or family member present.

“If you suspect a bogus caller is at your door, ring the police immediately.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0345 123 3333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.