AN elderly Catshill woman had £600 stolen from her handbag by conmen just a day after a Rubery pensioner was also targeted.

The distraction burglary happened in Oak Road, at the home of a woman in her 70s.

A man called at about 5.20pm last Thursday while the victim's sister was visiting and said the gas and electricity were being temporarily turned off.

He asked the sister to turn on the taps and flush the toilet.

The victim remained sitting in a chair and was told to put a cover over her face. Purses containing almost £600 in cash were taken from her handbag.

It is believed there were three offenders.

The first one was white, 5ft 2ins tall, of medium to stocky build, aged about 30, with collar length wavy black hair. He was clean shaven and wearing a short dark coat or jacket.

The second offender was also white, possibly less than 5ft tall, slim, and aged 20 to 30 with short black hair.

There is no description of the third offender.

The day before, last Wednesday, a man struck at the home of a woman in her 70s in Rubery.

The incident happened between 12noon and 12.30pm when the man told the occupant he was working on two nearby houses and needed to check the hot water and sewerage.

She was suspicious and challenged him, but he walked into her home, turned the kitchen tap and began to meddle with the pipe under the sink.

However, he left when she told him to go. It is not believed anything was stolen.

The man is described at white, 5ft 7ins tall, of average build, in his late 20s to mid 40s with light brown short hair. He was wearing a black suit jacket and a white shirt.

Witnesses or anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Bromsgrove police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.