RESIDENTS across the Basingstoke borough are being asked to look out for elderly neighbours like Diane and Harry Brown.

The couple are among a number of OAPs who are being preyed on by thieves posing as council or utility workers.

And in a bid to stop these crooks from hurting more people, Basingstoke police are asking neighbours to keep an eye out for suspicious visitors.

Last Thursday, there were five separate incidents reported to the police. These included incidents in Gainsborough Road, Bas-ingstoke; Pond Close, Overton; The Knowlings, Whitchurch; and at the home of the Browns (pictured), in Sandys Road, South Ham, where conmen had posed as council workers.

Diane, 71, said: "One of the men knocked on the back door and the other two went around the front.

"The one at the back asked us to go out in to the garden and even told my husband to put his coat on in case he got cold.

"When we came back inside, we noticed that they had been through a drawer where my husband had put his wallet containing about £100 worth of pension money.

"They had been through all the drawers upstairs and upturned the mattress."

Harry, 84, who is almost blind, had just collected that week's pension from Kings Road Post Office.

The couple's daughter, Carole Freeman, who lives in Popley, went to comfort her parents.

She said: "Dad was so affected by the event that he suffered an asthma attack before the police arrived and had to be calmed down by taking tranquillisers."

Carole said her mother had also been affected by the crime and was having trouble sleeping.

"My parents have been living here for 40 years so it is such a shame. I cannot believe people could do something like this," she said.

Sergeant Martin Cullis, of Basingstoke police, urged residents with elderly neighbours to keep an eye out for any suspicious callers. He asked people to report them on 0845 045 45 45.

He added: "We are not suggesting that anyone should have a go at these people but neighbours should keep an eye open just in case."