Two men conned their way into the home of a retired couple living in Mortlake last week, claiming they had lost their hamster.

Last Wednesday, October 4, the duo, one aged about 55 the other in his late teens, knocked on the door of the couple in Shalstone Road and said they were from number 39 and had lost their hamster. They asked to look in the back garden for it.

The teenager started to speak to the male pensioner while they looked for the pet and he failed to realise the older man had not come through to join in the hunt.

The female pensioner heard someone upstairs but thought it was her husband until she realised he was in the garden and started to head upstairs.

At the same time the older man came down holding something in his hand and shouted to his mate that he had "found the hamster".

Both men headed out of the house towards Kingsway and the couple found the locks on their wardrobes had been forced open, but nothing had been taken.

The older man is described as white, about 55-years-old, 5ft 5ins. He was wearing a checked cap, fawn coloured bomber jacket and white jumper with two dark bands around the wrist.

The younger man is said to be 18-years-old, 5ft 7ins, wearing a dark top and dark bottoms.

If you have any information contact Kathy Fenwick on 8247 7042 or kathryn.fenwick@met.police.uk or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.