Warnings were issued last night following a number of reports of conmen attempting to cheat their way into people's homes by posing as utility engineers.

A Belco spokeswoman said six complaints from customers had been made in the past fortnight.

Advertising and marketing coordinator Debbie Turner said a man was posing as a Belco worker and claiming checks needed to be carried out in their homes.

Once inside, he pretends to carry out tests before attempting to make off with cash.

She said: "Each time they seem to have occurred in the more central parishes.

"Somebody claims to be from Belco in a bid to get inside. We want to warn everyone and inform them that any Belco worker calling at an address should be carrying valid identification.

"If we are planning to carry out some work, we would normally try to inform residents in advance, anyway, either by letter or telephone.

"It is important that if people have any doubts at all about the validity of a caller, they should call our customer services department straight away.'' Police last night said they were investigating the theft of a quantity of cash from a house in Harvey Road, Paget, which is believed to have been stolen by the con man last Saturday.

The incident happened at about 4.30 p.m. when the bogus caller told the female occupant that he was doing area checks as a result of recent power surges.

He was equipped with a notebook and seemed knowledgeable and, once in the property, he pretended to carry out tests, assisted by the victim.

Apparently satisfied that all was in order he left. The woman later discovered that cash was missing from her handbag.

After leaving her house, the suspect is believed to have gone to a neighbouring property but did not manage to steal anything.

The suspect is described as being between five feet, ten inches and six feet tall, light brown skinned with a very close haircut. He is of medium build and clean-shaven and drove a dark blue car.

Anyone with information about him, or with future suspicions, should call Belco at 295-5111 or Police at 299-4249.