Two con artists suspected of 42 distraction burglaries in West London and the South East have been jailed.

James Nolan, 34, of no fixed address and Samantha Gray, 22, from Slough, conned elderly and vulnerable into believing they were charity or utility workers to get into their homes.

They targeted residents in Croydon, Sutton, Hounslow, Kingston, Hillingdon, Ealing, Brent and Hammersmith & Fulham, as well as across Surrey, Thames Valley and Hampshire.

The pair were convicted and sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday.

Nolan was found guilty of conspiring to commit 35 distraction burglaries between July 17 and September 29, 2010 and seven other burglaries at later dates. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Gray was sentenced to six years in prison.

She was found guilty of conspiring to commit 35 distraction burglaries between July 17 and September 29, 2010.

The investigation was led jointly between MPS officers based at Hounslow and Surrey Police.

Both Nolan and Gray were arrested between September and November 2010.

Detective Constable Ian Van Staden, of Hounslow CID, said: “By using our expertise and working together with our colleagues at Surrey Police we have taken two very active burglars off the streets.

"The victims of these burglaries were particularly vulnerable due to their age or frailty. Nolan and Gray pretended to represented help groups and charities in order to gain trust and access to enter homes and steal cash and other valuables. They also pretended to be from a water utility company.

“These sentences are the result of detailed and experienced investigative work, based upon the limited information given by vulnerable victims.

" These convictions are truly the result of dedicated and tireless police work which clearly shows that these types of crimes are unacceptable.”

Police advise people to be very careful when dealing with unexpected callers.

Always use a door chain or spy-hole to check who is calling before you open the door.

Check the ID of callers from gas, electricity, other utilities and the council. Call the companies they claim to represent to check they are genuine members of staff.

Make sure they wait outside while you do this - genuine callers will not mind waiting while you check.

Always stay with the caller while they are in your home. You should be suspicious if they want to look round on their own.

Never show where you keep valuables. Do not keep large amounts of money in the house – even if you think it is well-hidden.

If you are at all suspicious of the caller, do not let them in. Lock the door and call the police.