A pair of "blatant despicable thieves" conned an elderly couple before stealing hundreds of pounds and a sentimental watch, police say.
The suspects targeted two people, both aged 95, who were returning from a shopping trip to their home in Hanover Street, Leigh, at around 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon.
A man approached the house and claimed to be a council employee who needed to look into problems with the property.
After around half an hour the person left the address and headed away in an unknown direction.
But, a short time later, the elderly victims discover that £600 has been taken from their upstairs bedroom and a sentimental gold Omega watch with a broken strap was also gone.
PC Devin Owens is investigating the incident for GMP's Leigh team and believes the burglary was conducted by two people.
"As you will see from the brief circumstances this is a despicable act on two 95-year-old victims in their own home," he said.
"I am appealing for any information that may lead to identifying the person or persons involved.
"In this current climate this is the last thing our victims need and they have been left visibly shaken by this ordeal.
"They have been subjected to the worse kind of invasion in their own home by two blatant despicable thieves.
"I believe the offender has been working with an accomplice in this instance and while one distracts the victims another is able to commit the act."
The man dressed as a council official is described as a white male, 5'8, with short dark hair and wearing a high-visibility jacket and bottoms.
PC Owens has asked anyone with information to contact him quoting log 1480 23/5/2020. Calls to GMP can be made on 101.
