Distraction burglary leads to warning of bogus callers

11:16am Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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TEWKESBURY residents are being warned to be on their guard after a distraction burglary took place yesterday (2).

The incident saw a man call at the house of an 82-year-old woman in Longhope at approximately 11.15am. He told that woman that a neighbour had been having trouble with her water and that he needed to come inside check her pipes.

The woman found later that her upstairs rooms had been searched and some money had been stolen from her handbag.

The man is described as in his 30s, around 5ft 10ins tall and of slim build. He was wearing dark trousers a fleece and a baseball cap.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Shorrock said: “This goes to show these people will try anything to trick their way into victim’s homes. These kinds of burglaries are always so despicable because the offenders deliberately target the most vulnerable members of society.

“We will, of course, do all we can to locate the offenders and to investigate this matter fully as we continue to crack down on distraction burglaries across Gloucestershire.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 171 of September 2.