Callous thieves' steal pensioner's life savings

2:40pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in Echo News By Gina Marden

CALLOUS thieves stole the life savings of a woman in her nineties.

The crooks called at the woman's home in the Nare Road area of Aveley before forcing their way in when she answered the door.

Once inside, while one of the men kept the woman busy talking, the other ransacked the house and stole thousands of pounds in cash.

The incident happened at 6pm on Saturday.

Anyone with information can contact Det Sgt Jim Adams at Grays CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Comments(7)

Ma white62 says...
4:19pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Help yourself thats the message our government and courts send you

Report this post »

A.N.Other says...
7:36pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Sounds like they already knew she had a large amount of cash in the house. One wonders is she had some cold calling tradesmen do some work in the recent past?

Report this post »

paulatepc says...
9:48pm Sun 20 Jan 13

I had this trouble with old callers with my 98 year old Mum. Not only the usual roofers from "you know where" who also tipped off their mates, that my Mum was living on her own, and who later robbed her, but also people who were supposed to be pillars of the community such as Gas and electricity companies who got her to sign contracts when it was clear to anyone that she had dementia. She was robbed twice more and we had to put remote camera systems, a lockable porch so there were double doors to the front of the house and an alarm system. The most important thing is for relations to take care of their elderly relatives if they will allow them to and to handle their money safely and to get neighbours to be vigilant about anyone they don't know at the door. The other trouble is the lenient sentences. A five year stretch is only ever 2 and a half if that. Very often its not even custodial. I say stop cold calling completely - make it an offence - and to fit recorded cctv to all lone elderly homes.

Report this post »

Almeda11 says...
10:46pm Sun 20 Jan 13

paulatepc wrote:
I had this trouble with old callers with my 98 year old Mum. Not only the usual roofers from "you know where" who also tipped off their mates, that my Mum was living on her own, and who later robbed her, but also people who were supposed to be pillars of the community such as Gas and electricity companies who got her to sign contracts when it was clear to anyone that she had dementia. She was robbed twice more and we had to put remote camera systems, a lockable porch so there were double doors to the front of the house and an alarm system. The most important thing is for relations to take care of their elderly relatives if they will allow them to and to handle their money safely and to get neighbours to be vigilant about anyone they don't know at the door. The other trouble is the lenient sentences. A five year stretch is only ever 2 and a half if that. Very often its not even custodial. I say stop cold calling completely - make it an offence - and to fit recorded cctv to all lone elderly homes.
A terrible endigtment of our society today, but it sounds as if you have done as much as you can after this latest incident. Maybe, if your mum still has any savings left you could persuade her to open a savigs account with a building society or bank, and you keep hold of the details?
Then, if she needs to withdraw money you could go together, much safer than having cash in the house or bank details.
l hope your mother has recovered from her ordeal.

Report this post »

Audioman says...
7:46am Mon 21 Jan 13

Hope they catch them and lock them up.

Report this post »

aberline 88 says...
10:44am Mon 21 Jan 13

i strongly believe these scum should be hung in public for this, burglars hang them, muggers hang them, sex offenders hang them, or give them to the army for bayonet practise or test chemicals on them, it would save the taxpayer millions if we just done away with these people, theres no discipline today, what a truly awful and shocking society we live in today

Report this post »

InTheKnowOk says...
12:05pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Sad to say that a lot of old folk just don't know what's going on in the world today .. They came from a generation where people helped each other for no reward, they left their front doors open and trusted strangers .. You can't do that now, there is always someone out there ready to take something that isn't theirs ...

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree