Police Release Efits After Burglaries
26 April 2010, 10:54 | Updated: 26 April 2010, 11:48
Police are today (Monday, April 26) releasing the efits of two of a team of conmen thought to be responsible for a spate of distraction burglaries involving elderly victims across Southampton.
Detectives from Bitterne CID are investigating five linked but separate incidents which occurred across Southampton and Eastleigh on Wednesday, April, 14 when elderly people were specifically targeted.
The team of conmen used various tricks to get into people’s homes – pretending to be from the waterboard, posing as police officers, or pretending to be selling/buying a motorbike.
The first burglary happened between 12.15pm and 12.35pm at an address in Sedburgh Road, Millbrook, when a man called at the property of a 72-year-old man pretending to be from the water board.
He tried to trick the householder into thinking that there had been a cracked sewage pipe which had led to contaminated drinking water. The man asked the victim to turn on all the taps in an effort to distract him, but the pensioner became suspicious and the suspect left without stealing anything.
The man is described as:
- White with a slightly olive complexion
- Aged in his 30s
- 5ft 11ins tall
- Slim build with short dark hair and eyes
- Wearing black jeans, dark coloured top and black slip-on shoes
- Believed to have a London accent
Between 1pm and 2.10pm up to three men visited the home of an 85-year-old woman in Orpen Road, Sholing and tricked the lady into thinking they were police officers.
After conning their way into her home the suspects searched her address and stole a substantial amount of cash before leaving.
Between 3pm and 3.30pm at an address in Glen Road, Woolston, a man called at the home of a 78-year-old woman pretending to be selling a motorbike. He left and returned a short time later with another man. They then tried to trick the householder into thinking that there was a water leak within her address that needed fixing.
On this occasion they were refused entry and the woman called the police to raise concerns. The men left and were seen heading in the direction of Weston Grove Road. Nothing was stolen. The men are described as:
Man 1:
- White
- Approx 16 years-old
- 5ft 5 to 5ft 5ins tall, broad build, short blond hair
- Wearing a black zip up top with black trousers, smart appearance.
Man 2:
- White
- Approx 40 years-old
- Shorter than man 1
- Slimmer build, with short hair
- Wearing a grey sports jacket.
Between 3.15pm and 3.25pm two men called at the home of an 82-year-old woman in Ropley Close, Weston, and tricked her into believing that they were police officers. Having entered her home the men carried out a search and seized a substantial amount of money before leaving.
Later in the day between 7pm and 7.20pm an 80-year old woman was tricked by three men who called at her Grantham Road home in Eastleigh posing as police officers who told her that she was being burgled. Having entered her home the woman became suspicious and the three men left soon after. Nothing was stolen.
Detectives in Bitterne are appealing to any members of the public who saw any of the conmen at these locations to come forward or who recognises the two people in the efits.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bitterne CID on 101, or the anonymous Crimestoppers number, on 0800 555 111.