POLICE are warning elderly people in North Lancashire to be on their guard after young distraction thieves stole almost £100 cash from two pensioners.

A 77-year-old Carnforth woman was in the public toilets in Market Street, Carnforth, on Monday just before 10am, when a young white woman engaged her in conversation while her two female friends stole a purse containing £98 cash from her handbag.

All three girls were wearing blue jeans and white tops, and were seen getting into a red Cavalier.

The next day, at around 11am, a 78-year-old Bolton-le-Sands woman had just cashed her pension in the village post office when she was approached by two young women and a young man, who made off with £93 cash, and other items from her handbag.

They also left in an

E-registered Cavalier.

Detective sergeant Mark Salisbury urged elderly people in the area to safeguard their property and to avoid getting involved in conversation with people they did not know.