SCORES of elderly and vulnerable people have been targeted by bogus callers in the region in the run-up to Christmas.

The spate of distraction burglaries revealed in new police figures highlights the urgency of The Northern Echo's Doorstoppers campaign.

Although there are growing reports of householders refusing callers entry, police last night reinforced their safety message: "If in doubt, keep them out."

Since The Northern Echo joined forces with the North of England Trading Standards Group to launch the campaign on November 24, 52 residents in North Yorkshire and County Durham have been conned into letting people into their homes by bogus officials.

In the Northumbria Police force area there were 73 reports of bogus callers in November, and another 31 people were victims of doorstep crime in Cleveland. One of the most recent cases involved a 92-year-old woman who on Tuesday gave £100 to a man who said tiles on the roof of her Scarborough home needed to be repaired - and left without doing the work.

Another householder had her purse stolen after allowing a man claiming to be from a water company into her home in Chapel Bungalows, Guisborough, east Cleveland, and shortly afterwards a woman refused to be tricked when she was approached at her home in the Bankfields area of Eston by someone selling cut-price alcohol.

Detective Sergeant Tommy Drysdale, of South Bank CID, said: "We have had a couple of incidents of people being offered cheap alcohol and cigarettes in the run-up to Christmas whereby the caller has taken the cash and said they would bring the goods back, but not returned.

"All of these scams have one thing in common - they target the elderly, who are the most easily persuaded into believing the caller is genuine, and then steal their cash."

Meanwhile, an elderly man had his wallet stolen from a bureau after two men tricked their way into his home in Barnard Castle, County Durham, and four elderly women in Darlington were targeted by two separate gangs - one claiming to be from the council, and the other purporting to be water company officials.

Police believe the women, who all live alone, had been specifically targeted, although one of them refused to let the caller in.

Inspector Brian Moulding, of Darlington police, said: "She questioned them and has obviously been quite switched on and has rumbled them straight away.

"We need to get the message out to people, especially the elderly. The lady who turned the men away has done the right thing."

In North Yorkshire, a 68-year-old man had money stolen after allowing two bogus water company workers into his home in Swainby, near Northallerton. One of the men took the householder into the kitchen and kept him talking while the other stole the cash.

A Northallerton CID spokesman said: "We would like to give a warning to residents to check how bona fide anyone who turns up on their doorstep is.

"If they cannot convince you of their identity, do not let them in."

Detective Inspector Colin Tansley, of Cleveland Police, said the latest incidents showed how the conmen altered their story and technique to gain entry or fleece their victims.

"I have lost count of the different ways people try to get into a property," he said.

"There are all manner of different ruses they will use to get in.

"People from genuine companies who come to your door will not mind if you take time checking their identities."

Det Insp Tansley, who is leading the force's Operation Strongbow to target doorstep crime, revealed there have been 287 offences reported on Teesside this year, but admitted that could be a fraction of the true figure.

A spokesman for the police in North Yorkshire, where there had been a number of incidents in which callers have been refused entry, said: "The message seems to be getting through.

"Because of the publicity, there are a lot of people who are telling them to sling their hooks but are calling us to report the matter."