Fewer people suffer at the hands of distraction burglars in Sussex.

Sussex Police welcome a 43% reduction in distraction burglaries last year. 123 offences were reported in 2009, compared with 215 during 2008.

Offences significantly reduced across the Autumn and Winter months in particular. Between September and December 2009 only 18 offences were recorded across Sussex, compared to the 101 offences recorded over the same period in 2008.

Distraction burglary is any crime where a falsehood, trick or distraction is used to try to get into premises to commit theft. Violence or other verbal pressure is used by offenders against the elderly in order to gain entry to their homes and steal their property.

The crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, has today launching a list of 10 Most Wanted people across the UK sought in connection with distraction burglaries and warns people to be careful about who they let into their homes. See fuller details at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wanted .

Detective Sergeant Brett Wood of Sussex Police said; "We have been targeting the type of people who commit this particularly unpleasant and vicious type of crime, and we hope this is part of the reason for the reduction. There is currently a 16% detection rate but this type of crime is committed by relatively small numbers of criminals and we often find that police operations and individual arrests can be followed by a drop in offences.

"However we still receive reports of such crime and have not let up on our efforts. Meanwhile residents can help by following our advice."

• Bogus callers target older people - the average age of their victims is 81
• 60% of victims are women and the vast majority live alone.
• Typically, bogus callers con people out of cash and valuables. While the loss of these items can be distressing, of greater impact to the victim may be the stress that such an attack causes. It may have a significant impact on the victim's confidence and may lead to a deterioration in the victim's overall health.
• Advice to the elderly when dealing with cold callers at the door - when you hear that there is someone at the door:
Take your time - a genuine caller will wait.
Check your doors are locked - offenders can come in pairs, one will enter the back while the accomplice distracts you at the front.
Look and see who is there using the door viewer or nearby window.
If you decide to open the door apply your door chain or door bar.
Remember - identification is very easy to reproduce. Any ID offered should be verifiable. Make that phone call and check it.
If you are not happy with the caller and your suspicions are aroused call Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 or in an emergency dial 999.