Wiltshire Police have issued a warning to homeowners as they investigate two ‘distraction’ burglaries involving elderly people – in Ramsbury and Aldbourne.
The first one took place in Aldbourne on Thursday, August 4 at around 5pm. A man came to the house and posing as an NHS worker, he made the elderly victim walk through the house, saying he was there to check on her mobility. Meanwhile a second man went into the house and searched it.
They were described as smartly dressed white males with soft Irish accents. The suspects drove off in a silver-coloured estate car.
The second burglary was at a house in Ramsbury on Thursday, August 28 at around 1pm. A man told the elderly victim he was from the water board.
He asked her to come with him to check the water pressure while a second man made an untidy search of the house. Again, it is believed they were in a silver-coloured estate car.
In each case some cash was taken. Police are appealing for witnesses to these two burglaries.
PC Victoria Barker: “I’d also ask families with elderly members to ensure they check the ID of people who come to the house uninvited.”
“Families should be vigilant and not dismiss any comments made by elderly about people that have come to the house, especially if offering gardening services, needing to test water pressure or saying they’re from the NHS.”
“Please don’t hesitate to call police on 101 to report anyone suspicious.”
“Wiltshire Police understand that this can be embarrassing for the elderly, if they have fallen victim to this kind of incident, but by reporting it we can then catch these unscrupulous criminals.”