UPDATED: Pair of Burglars Targeting Cerritos and Artesia Residences Today

UPDATED: Adds approx. locations of three of the burglaries and quotes from Sgt. Mark Patrick of the sheriff's Cerritos Station.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is cautioning all Cerritos and Artesia residents to be on the lookout today for two male burglary suspects posing as Cerritos Water Department employees.

The pair have already been linked to five residential burglaries -- three in Cerritos, one in Artesia, and one in La Palma, according to a news release issued by the sheriff's Cerritos Station. 

One of the thefts occurred about 11:30 a.m. today on Viarna Street, followed by an incident about noon on Carmenita Road, and another burglary about 12:45 p.m. on Arlene Avenue in Artesia, sheriff's Sgt. Mark Patrick told Patch.com. Information on the other two burglaries were not immediately available.

The two men are posing as Water Department employees, wearing light blue shirts and dark blue pants. Both suspects have IDs on their shirts with the names blacked out, the sheriff's department says.

One suspect is described as being a white or hispanic man between the ages of 20-40 years old. The second suspect is a white man in the same age range. Both men are "clean cut" and have been telling residents that they need to check the water in the home for sand contamination. While inside, one suspect goes into a bedroom and steals cash and jewelry.

"Basically one of them is distracting folks while the other wanders through the house to see what they can get," Patrick said.

Authorities say the pair has been targeting elderly residents and have been seen driving a beige car. 

Anyone who has seen or has had contact with the suspects is urged to call 911 immediately.