PEOPLE are being warned not to give money to anyone who turns up on their doorstep asking for cash.

The advice comes after there were at least two incidents in Droitwich last week where residents were approached at their homes by strangers.

DC Stuart Mitchinson of Wychavon CID said: “As we've looked into these incidents, it seems this kind of activity may be happening regularly in the town.

“The first incident happened in Nuffield Drive at around 10.30pm on Monday, 14 May while the second happened on Tuesday, 15 May at around 4.30pm in St Peter’s Crescent.

“On both occasions, a man came to the door of the properties involved asking for money. He was turned away by the residents and it is not known at this stage if it is the same man or two different men. However, we do know that a man had been seen knocking on other people's doors in St Peter’s Crescent earlier on that day.”

Wychavon CID is currently investigating another incident which took place last month where a man turned up at a woman's door in Grafson Place in the town asking for money.

On that occasion, the man was given some money after saying he needed it for a taxi as his pregnant wife had been taken to hospital.

It was later discovered that a mobile phone had been stolen from the kitchen of the property following the stranger's visit.

DC Mitchinson said: “Of course people are free to give their money to whoever they want to and this is more likely to happen if they have a reason to do so, such as an emergency.

“However, as in the case at Grafson Place, the kindness of the resident was exploited and it seems that the stranger may have got away with more than the money he was so generously given.

“I would urge people not to allow any strangers who come knocking on their doors into their homes under any circumstances. No matter how genuine that person may seem or whatever sad story they may have, you don't know who they are or what their intentions may be.

“I would also further discourage residents from giving strangers money in this way as this will only encourage them to knock on other people's doors in the hope of getting more money.”

Residents are urged to report similar incidents to police on the non-emergency number 101.

More personal safety advice can be found at westmercia.police.uk.

•A 37-year-old man was arrested on Friday in connection with the Grafson Place incident.

He was charged later that day with fraud and burglary offences and appeared before Worcester Magistrates Court on Saturday.