07/12/2009

Woman, 89, Robbed In Manchester

An elderly woman has been burgled in Manchester after thieves tricked their way into her home.

The 89-year-old victim, who lives on Ashfield Square, Droylsden, answered her door to two men at around lunch time on Thursday 26 November.

She had been expecting a visit from a charity and did not question the man who was there.

He told her he needed her to fill up buckets of water and went with the householder into the kitchen.

He filled around half a dozen buckets and carried them out of the house while she stayed in the kitchen, police said.

The man then left and when the woman checked upstairs she realised that an accomplice had gone into her bedroom and taken cash.

The man with the bucket has been described as white with a tanned complexion, 6ft tall, with dark hair and an Irish accent. He was wearing green work clothes.

The other offender was not seen.

Detective Constable Graeme Masheter, of th CID, said the elderly woman has been left feeling very shaken and humiliated.

"People who prey on pensioners like this can be very plausible, so I would warn elderly people especially not to let anyone into their home without checking their identification, even if it has been pre-arranged," he said.

"We are doing all we can to catch whoever stole from this woman, but if you saw anyone in the area around the time of the offence or you know who may have done this, please call us."

(PR/BMcc)

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