AN action group is trying to build a picture of a typical victim to help reduce the number of distraction burglaries in Sedgefield.

The Sedgefield Burglary Action Group has made targeting bogus callers a priority.

The group, formed under the Sedgefield Community Safety Partnership banner, includes representatives from the police, Sedgefield Borough Council, Three Rivers Housing, Disc, Victim Support and the youth offending team.

Crime prevention officer PC Neil Langthorne said there were 22 incidents in the borough between January and May this year. He has visited each property to try to build a picture of a typical victim.

PC Langthorne said no crime pattern had emerged, except that in each case the crime had been committed by people claiming to represent a water company.

Half of the properties burgled were local authority bungalows, occupied by elderly or frail people, and a further eight showed signs of neglect.

PC Langthorne said he had felt conspicuous when checking the properties, but was never challenged.

He said: "We have spent an awful lot of time as a force trying to get the message across to elderly and vulnerable people and we should keep that up. But perhaps it is time we looked at other methods, and I think it is important that we look at those people who have responsibility for the elderly.

"That would start with neighbours, their families, carers and organisations with responsibility for elderly people."

PC Langthorne said the investigations would continue and officers would look at the method for every property targeted by a bogus caller.

He said: "We want an early-warning system in place so we can prevent this."