Men posing as church newspaper collectors and water board officials tricked their way into the homes of several elderly and vulnerable people in Holderness.

Cash, jewellery and Playstation games were stolen during the "distraction burglaries", which all took place between 1215 and 1600 GMT on Thursday 5 December 2002.

Humberside Police believes the incidents may be linked and is asking people to report any suspicious callers to police immediately.

A police spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "We would like to urgently remind residents not to allow strangers inside their home, even if they appear convincing."

"If people are unsure, they should ask the caller to come back at a later time to allow for checks to be made - genuine callers will understand.