A MAN, woman and 12-year-old boy have been arrested by Lewisham police in Beckenham and Swanley following a series of distraction burglaries against pensioners.

The arrests come after a police appeal over the incidents, which took place across the area in Catford, Greenwich, Lee and Dartford.

In one instance, a 91-year-old man was assaulted after he answered his door to a young boy who said he needed to write a note for his aunt.

On another occasion a 79-year-old woman was duped into looking for a lost cat in her garden while her possessions were stolen.

Officers from Lewisham's Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit arrested the man, 39, and 35-year-old woman in Rectory Road, Beckenham, yesterday (September 3) at around 2.30pm in connection with the burglaries.

Following those arrests, officers went to Swanley this morning, (September 4) where the young boy was arrested

All three are now in custody at a south east London police station.