Burglars strike at pensioners' homes in Sheffield and Barnsley

A burglar stole a substantial amount of cash from a 96-year-old woman after conning his way into her home in Sheffield on Tuesday (July 12).

The man knocked on the woman’s door at her home in Bowden Street before claiming he was a handyman painting houses for the elderly and was allowed access to the property.

When he was left alone in one room, he is reported to have taken a substantial sum of money and the woman’s purse before fleeing the scene.

On Wednesday (July 13), police were called to reports of a burglary in Shafton, Barnsley.

An unknown man visited the property of an 81-year-old man in Hawthorne Way, claiming to be from a care home.

He asked for a quantity of jewellery from the pensioner, stating this was standard procedure.

The jewellery included a gold bracelet that was engraved, a gold chain with a gold cross pendant with the engraving ‘God Bless You Shirley’ and another chain with a gold pendant in the shape of the letter ‘S’.

The suspect in the Sheffield incident is described as a white man in his 50s, between 5ft 10in and 6ft tall with thinning grey hair.

He was reportedly wearing a black-coloured waist length padded jacket and had distinctive, crooked black lower teeth.

The suspect in the Barnsley incident is described as being white, in his 30s, of medium build with short brown hair. He spoke with a Yorkshire accent.

While the two burglaries are not linked, officers wish to remind the public of the dangers of bogus officials and the importance of confirming the identity of those who call at your door.

Police are also keen to hear from anyone living in those areas of Barnsley and Sheffield who may have witnessed suspicious activity or have witnessed men matching these descriptions in their communities.

Detectives in Barnsley want to hear from anyone who may have been offered this distinctive jewellery for sale.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call 101, or email [email protected]

For the Sheffield burglary, quote incident number 641 of 12 July 2016. For the Barnsley burglary, quote incident number 244 of 13 July 2016.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.