APPEALS are being made to the criminal underworld on Teesside to turn in two women and a girl who stole an elderly couple's life savings.

The gang bluffed their way into the Redcar home of the housebound couple who are in their eighties.

One of the women, who claimed she was from Social Services, pretended to leave the room to make a cup of tea for the pensioners, but ransacked their bedroom from which she stole a large amount of cash.

The couple, from Teesville, were targeted by a bogus water board official two years ago, and have been left traumatised by this latest theft.

Detective Constable Peter Clifford, of Cleveland Police, said: "We appeal to mem- bers of the public and criminals to name and shame these offenders." One of the pensioners has not been outside her home in the two years since they were targeted.

Det Con Clifford said: "The couple are obviously very distressed and upset over this situation."

He said of the three tricksters: "These women targeted this house somehow knowing of the vulnerability of the couple living there."

One of the bogus callers is a slim woman in her twenties with short gingerish blond hair.

An accomplice is a large- built woman in her thirties, with short, dark hair.

The third member of the gang is a girl aged about 15 or 16, with brown hair.

Anyone with information about Friday's theft is asked to contact Cleveland Police on (01642) 302020.