Police are investigating burglary where an elderly man was distracted and had his post stolen from his home in Basildon.

The victim, who is in his 70s, was at home in Cooks Green, at around 11am on Wednesday, April 1, when a man, woman and small child knocked at his door.

The man and woman claimed that their son had spilled something on himself so they required water to clean it.

The victim has declined and as he turned, the suspects leant into the property and removed the post from the doorstep. They then fled the area in a blue Peugeot.

All suspects are described as being black. The woman is aged in her early 20s, of slim build with long black hair and around 5 ft tall. She was wearing a grey hat, chequered coat, blue jeans and black sunglasses.

The man was described as aged between 25 and 30, around 6 ft tall and of slim build. He was wearing a grey hat, dark coloured coat with black jeans and red trainers.

The child was around 4 years of age and was wearing a black coat with blue jeans.

Police are appealing for any information about this incident and ask anyone with information to contact Pc Dean Perry at Basildon CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.