A YOUNG boy is believed to have been used as a distraction while a 91-year-old man was burgled in his Bellingham home.

Lewisham Police say the attack might be linked to other similar burglaries involving a man and a young accomplice targeting vulnerable people in Greenwich and Dartford.

The elderly victim was tricked after letting the child into his home on June 7 around 11.50pm when the boy knocked on the door saying he needed to write a note for his aunt.

He was then assaulted from behind while on the phone to police after becoming suspicious that a second intruder had entered his house in Southend Lane.

A similar attack took place in Sibthorpe Road, Greenwich, where a 79-year-old woman allowed a young boy into her garden as he claimed he could hear a cat crying.

The victim later went upstairs to find her drawers open and her purse missing and police believe a man entered the house while she was distracted on July 3 around 11.10pm.

The incidents come after a disabled man was similarly targeted in Wyvern close, Dartford, on June 7 around 12pm and Kent Police released an e-fit image of the suspect.

A boy, aged between nine and 11 years old, knocked on the 62-year-old man’s house and asked if he could retrieve a toy from the back garden.

The victim went upstairs to find a man rifling through his belongings before making off with £400 in cash and items including a Rotary Monza watch.

The adult suspect is described as being white, clean shaven, of heavy build and aged between 35 and 40 years old.

Detective Constable Shukeil Mandalia, of Lewisham Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit, said: "Whilst we are not stating that all these offences are linked at these stage, the offences are very similar and the description of the suspect provided to us by the victim of the offence in Lewisham does bear a striking resemblance to the e-fit that was issued by Kent Police.

“People should remain vigilant and if they do receive a knock at their door to find these suspects or anyone using a similar ruse in order to gain entry to their home please dial 999 immediately."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Lewisham Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit on 020 8284 8348 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.