Not Sure?…Don't Open The Door is the message at the heart of Operation Liberal's renewed public awareness campaign against distraction burglars.
The campaign, sponsored by the Energy Retail Association, aims to make people aware of the tactics used by distraction burglars and how they can prevent themselves from becoming potential victims.
A distraction burglary is defined as where one or more offenders trick or distract an occupant in order to gain entry to the premises before committing burglary.
Sussex Police report a welcome a reduction in distraction burglaries last year. 123 offences were reported in 2009, compared with 215 during 2008.
In the first 10 weeks of this year 13 such offences were reported compared with 28 offences in the same period last year.
However, these offences continue to be a problem and the force continues to target this type of offence.
A recent ploy used has been used is that of pretending to be a police officer, and several more such offences were reported in Brighton, Hove, Portslade and Lancing just the evening before last.
Detective Sergeant Brett Wood of Sussex Police said, "We have been targeting the type of people who commit this particularly unpleasant and vicious type of crime, and we hope this is part of the reason for the reduction.
"This type of crime is committed by relatively small numbers of criminals and we often find that police operations and individual arrests can be followed by a drop in offences. victims of distraction burglary can suffer terribly both emotionally and physically.
"When you consider the average age of a victim is 81-years- old, you can understand why many suffer a decline in health afterwards and why it can seriously affect their trust and faith in people afterwards.
"We still receive reports of such crime and have not let up on our efforts. Meanwhile residents can help by following our advice.
"It's also worth remembering that other types of doorstep deceit can happen - for example only a few weeks ago a bogus caller conned an elderly woman in Hove out of £1,900 by saying her roof had been damaged by the snow."
In 2009 there were 8,057 distraction burglary offences reported to police across England and Wales, a 13 per cent reduction compared with 9,223 reported offences during 2008.
This campaign aims to reduce the number of potential victims still further, ensuring the public are equipped with crime prevention advice.

The police have also issued some crime prevention tips:
• If you're not sure who is at your door, don't open it. Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are purporting to be from i.e. police, council or gas, electricity, water companies. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the caller, as they may be bogus.
• Many utility service providers like gas, electricity and water, provide password schemes for customers, sign up to these.
When unannounced callers claiming to be from these utility providers call at your door they should know the password if they are genuine.
• 'Water boards' no longer exist, it is an obsolete phrase used only by bogus callers.
• Don't keep large quantities of cash at home, put it in the bank where it is safe.
• Keep doors locked and windows secure at all times.
• Ensure that if you do let somebody in to your home, that you close the door behind them – distraction burglars often work in teams, where one will distract you whilst others sneak in through the insecure door.
• If somebody asks for your help (ie needs to make a telephone call, lost a ball in your garden, needs a drink or pen and paper) refer them to a younger neighbour or assist them through a closed door or call a friend or neighbour to come and help.
• If you suspect a bogus caller is at your door call the police immediately.