A HOME Office minister today issued new guidelines to vulnerable pensioners after reading about a string of thefts from the elderly in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Home Office minister Charles Clarke pledged to roll out a programme of safety improvements for pensioners as soon as a pilot projects in areas including Blackburn proved they were worth while.

He spoke out after reading last Monday's front page of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, which listed a catalogue of sickening sneak-in thefts and robberies on old people in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn..

Police recently revealed that more than 20 pensioners had become the victims of sneak-in thefts in the last two months. In the latest case, an 81-year-old man was targeted by a conman who even advised him to get a better lock fitted to protect him from thieves before stealing hundreds of pounds from his home.

The incident was the second time Albert Woodhouse, 81, of Spring Hill, Accrington, had been targeted by bogus officials in less than six months and the latest in a long line of similar incidents which police now describe as a "major problem."

Mr Clarke said: "I was very disturbed to hear about the spate of bogus callers.

"The distress and disruption to people's lives which these shameful crimes cause cannot be overstated.

"The home Office is currently funding trials of devices aimed at beating these heartless con-artists in 200 homes across Lancashire.

"In the meantime, it is important for people of all ages to remember three simple steps: stop, chain, check."

He outlined the guidelines -- which are to be issued to pensioner support organisations -- today:

Stop and think if you are expecting a visitor;

Use your door chain;

Check their identification then close the door and ring the number on the card if you are unsure.

One of the new devices installed in some homes locally as part of the trial is called Identislot and is a mirror which allows pensioners to see round the door when the chain is on.

Other homes are testing a system which plays a pre-recorded message to pensioners as they approach the door to remind them to put the chain on.

Police are linking some of the thefts but say conmen are responsible for the worst spate of sneak-ins that they can remember.

A scheme launched by Neighbourhood Watch last month provided 52 homes in Blackburn with equipment including an automatic voice system which reminds pensioners to check for identification when answering the door. And Age Concern Hyndburn have organised police crime prevention talks at their day centres.