Elderly victims of 'abhorrent' thefts in East Lancashire

5:00pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

BOGUS officials have targeted elderly residents in a spate of ‘abhorrent’ burglaries across East Lancashire.

Incidents in Darwen, Black- burn, Whalley, Accrington and Burnley have involved men claiming they needed to check the water supply knocking on doors and taking cash.

On January 8, a 92-year-old man in St Silas Road, Blackburn, had two men come into his home and ask for change of a £20 note.

It was unclear what was stolen but it is thought the incident is connected to other thefts.

In Accrington on January 15, a 77-year-old woman was targeted by two men and had £800 stolen.

One was tall, slim with short dark curly hair, had an Irish accent and wore jeans, shiny black shoes and a tight-fitted black anorak.

On January 21, two men went to an address in Pilmuir Road, Blackburn, and a partially-sighted 89-year-old woman had £6 taken from her purse.

The thieves were white, one about 25, the other about 40, and both wore black woolly hats.

Later that day in Darwen, a 94-year-old woman was told that the council owed her £10, but the thief needed change for a £20 note. She gave them £10, but they left with the money as well as the £20 note. This man was white and wore dark clothing.

On the same day, two men went to an address at Riddings Lane, Whalley, and stole cash and jewellery from the 84-year-old female occupant.

On January 23, £80 was taken when an 87-year-old woman in Brunshaw Road, Burnley, opened her door to suspected burglars.

And on January 30, two men went to an address on Avallon Way, Darwen, where cash and jewellery was stolen from an 82-year-old woman.

One of the thieves was white, aged 25 to 30, with short dark hair with curls at the back and he was smartly dressed Sgt Tim McDermott said: “These offences are absolutely abhorrent.

The victims are all elderly and all have been affected by what has happened to them. Some are deeply distressed.

“Although the descriptions of the offenders vary, we are confident that the crimes are linked.

“I would ask that anyone who knows anything about these incidents to contact the police immediately.”

Call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.

Comments (3)

6:30pm Mon 4 Feb 13

pwitch says...

There are too many of these scum around who don't seem to get caught and if they do the the punishments are inadequate. The prison sentences are a joke as they only ever seem to spend half the sentence in prison in any case.
Time we have better legal systems, but of course the lawyers are too well paid in any case for the most part.
There are too many of these scum around who don't seem to get caught and if they do the the punishments are inadequate. The prison sentences are a joke as they only ever seem to spend half the sentence in prison in any case. Time we have better legal systems, but of course the lawyers are too well paid in any case for the most part. pwitch

7:50pm Mon 4 Feb 13

noddy57 says...

pwitch wrote:
There are too many of these scum around who don't seem to get caught and if they do the the punishments are inadequate. The prison sentences are a joke as they only ever seem to spend half the sentence in prison in any case.
Time we have better legal systems, but of course the lawyers are too well paid in any case for the most part.
absolutely,,these scumbags take advantage of the most vulnerable in society, the law is not tuff enough on these types of dispicable towrags, the sentences need to be tripled in length and the seriousness of this type of crime needs to be greatly increased to a more realistic level, in reality this crime is much worse than it appears and should be upgraded ,lets say minimum 10 years for first timers and 15 for repeat offenders,
[quote][p][bold]pwitch[/bold] wrote: There are too many of these scum around who don't seem to get caught and if they do the the punishments are inadequate. The prison sentences are a joke as they only ever seem to spend half the sentence in prison in any case. Time we have better legal systems, but of course the lawyers are too well paid in any case for the most part.[/p][/quote]absolutely,,these scumbags take advantage of the most vulnerable in society, the law is not tuff enough on these types of dispicable towrags, the sentences need to be tripled in length and the seriousness of this type of crime needs to be greatly increased to a more realistic level, in reality this crime is much worse than it appears and should be upgraded ,lets say minimum 10 years for first timers and 15 for repeat offenders, noddy57

9:59pm Mon 4 Feb 13

iasiah fartwell says...

these are not opportunist incidents, they know their victims, they would have watched for a few days, so keep a look out for people sat in cars or vans where elderly people live
these are not opportunist incidents, they know their victims, they would have watched for a few days, so keep a look out for people sat in cars or vans where elderly people live iasiah fartwell

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