A thief is using a girl as young as 11 to distract elderly residents while he steals cash from their homes, according to police.

A Berkhamsted man in his 80s was targeted by the distraction burglars last Friday, and six more similar cases were reported last Thursday and Friday across Hemel Hempstead. 

The young girl either claims she has hurt her wrist and needs help, or asks to borrow a pen and paper to write a note to a relative who lives in the street. 

While the victim is occupied with helping her, the man enters the house and searches for cash to steal. 

Police are looking for a white man aged 19-28, between 5ft 9in and 6ft tall with a slight build. Victims said he had stubble on his face and was wearing a light-coloured hooded duffel coat. 

His young accomplice is said to be a white girl aged 11-13 with long, dark brown hair. She has been seen wearing a black knee-length coat.

The pair target vulnerable pensioners living alone and are believed to travel in a white van, black 4x4 or large, dark vehicle. 

Elderly residents are advised to request identification from callers they don't expect or recognise, and to avoid keeping large amounts of cash in their homes.

Detective Inspector Gerry McDonald said: 'These are cowardly individuals targeting the elderly and vulnerable people in our communities.

'We have a specialist team of officers investigating and we will leave no stone unturned in tracking the offenders down.'