Man followed woman home from cashpoint
and stole her money

Michael Collins spotted the 37-year-old woman withdrawing a “large amount” of money from a bank in Bellhouse Road, Sheffield, before following her home, distracting her and stealing her handbag.

The 39-year-old from Hatfield House Lane, Shiregreen, trailed her as she went into several different shops and was captured on CCTV changing his hat, coat and gloves several times as he followed the victim on foot from one shop to another.

Shortly after she returned home he knocked on her front door and told her a pipe had burst nearby, meaning that her water needed to be turned off.

Collins walked into the address uninvited and, while she looked for the stopcock, he took her handbag. He quickly left and got into a van parked outside, in which his wife, 
Alice, was waiting.

The pair, who are both unemployed, then drove home but were arrested after the distinctive van was traced back to them.

Collins was yesterday jailed for 25 months after admitting the burglary on May 30, while his wife, 41, was given a 12-month community order after admitting a charge of handling stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Shaf Rehman, said it was a “callous and despicable crime”.

“He singled out this woman after seeing her counting out the money she had withdrawn.

“What makes this even worse is that the money 
was for her ill father, who 
lived with her at the family home.”