POLICE in North Yorkshire are investigating whether a series of incidents involving bogus callers pretending to be police officers are linked to a similar problem in East Yorkshire.

Police across the county are warning the public to be on their guard after a number of vulnerable elderly people were targeted by smartly dressed men claiming to be plain-clothed police officers investigating reports of crime in the area.

In some cases, they have threatened the householder with violence.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We are keeping an open mind at this stage but the circumstances of the incident in Humberside and the ones in North Yorkshire do sound very similar.

"Inquiries are continuing and we are working with Humberside Police."

The latest incident in North Yorkshire happened in Thirsk on January 28, and similar incidents have been reported in Ripon, Harrogate, Whitby, Scarborough and Norton.

In ther Thirsk incident, the house, in Hambleton Close, was burgled after entry was gained through a bedroom window. The suspects escaped with cash and a number of personal items.

Minutes later, two men called at the neighbouring house, claiming to be police officers investigating the burglary at the house next door, and said they needed to search the house. One of the men put a foot in the doorway, but they were refused entry by the householder and left empty-handed.

One of the men involved in this incident was described as in his early 20s, about 5ft 10ins tall, wearing a navy blue water-proof jacket, navy blue trousers, and a navy baseball cap with yellow trim.

The other man was aged in his 50s and dressed in a similar fashion.

Now Humberside Police have issued an e-fit of a man who tried to get into a home in Beverley by saying he was a police officer.

Officers hope that by producing an image of the suspect they may prompt calls from members of the public who recognise him.

The man posed as a police officer to try to gain entry to a house on Wheatlands Drive, Beverley, at about 7pm on January 31.

Fortunately he left without gaining entry when he was asked for identification.

The man is described as white, around 20 years old, of a medium build. He was wearing a black cap with white writing on it.

Police are reminding residents that all genuine police offices carry identification and would not hesitate to show it when asked.

Humberside Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man in the e-fit to phone them on 0845 60 60 222. Anyone who knows anything about the other incidents should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 247.