A woman called the police after two men turned up at her door claiming to be bailiffs.

Two men knocked on a door in Tudor Way, Rickmansworth and told the homeowner they were bailiffs.

But the woman refused to let them in and called the police.

Police are now treating the incident as a suspected distraction burglary. Officers warn that while distraction burglaries are rare in the county, people should not open the door if they are not sure who is knocking.

Investigating officer, Sandra Toomey from Operation Manhunt, the team dedicated to investigating distraction burglaries, said: “The resident took exactly the right course of action. She believed the men were suspicious and refused to let them in.

“I would urge people never to open the door to a caller you are not expecting, and if you do get a suspicious call, contact police immediately.

“In the majority of distraction burglaries, it is the older people in our communities who are targeted so I would ask people to pass this message to their older friends or relatives.

“I would also urge anyone who has been approached in the same way, or who saw any suspicious activity in these locations where the incidents happened to contact police immediately.”