By Michelle Crean

Gardai have issued a warning to homeowners - especially the elderly - to be extra vigilant after a number of burglaries took place.

On Friday afternoon last a woman who was wearing a face mask called to homes in the Woodlawn, Ballycasheen, Mill Road and Park Drive areas - claiming to have lost a pet.

While the homeowners headed outside and to the rear of the properties to help find it a second person entered the home and stole jewellery and other items in what is known as a "distraction burglary".

It's believed there were two involved who were driving a 05 D Maroon B-type Mercedes and are not from the area as similar incidents had occurred in Cork days before.

"It's a particularly nasty type of crime," Superintendent Flor Murphy told the Killarney Advertiser.

"There were a number of attempts on households and we're very anxious to talk to people who may have information. We suspect they were not Killarney based as there was a number of similar incidents in Cork in the preceding days. We're warning homeowners not to fall for this and to keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours."

Anyone with information is asked to call Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160.