'Despicable' theft from 90-year-old woman
A 90-YEAR-OLD partially blind woman was tricked into letting a thief into her home late at night.
The crook told the woman he had stopped someone running away from her sheltered housing flat in Bannings Vale, East Saltdean, and seen her window open when he knocked on her door at 12.30am on April 10.
He told her to check all her cash and valuables were there and then stole 150. He hid her panic button.
The woman did not realise anything was wrong until she asked the man's name and he ran away.
The theft happened at Martlett House, a block of sheltered housing for the elderly owned and run by Southern Housing Group.
It is not the first time the block has been hit.
In February flats in the building were targeted by offenders who managed to get through the front door and then knocked on individual flats and stole purses and cash.
Last time the same woman had her flat entered but nothing was stolen.
PC Dave Newman of Peacehaven police said they are taking the crimes very seriously and will be talking to all the residents in the building about security.
The man is described as about 60, white, clean shaven and with a clear English accent, possible Southern.
PC Newman added: 'This is a despicable crime not only has a vulnerable victim been targeted the suspect has then even removed an emergency button from the victim, preventing any assistance arriving if needed.
'The Peacehaven neighbourhood specialist team would like to remind all resident to be vigilant and to make sure they know who is at their door before letting anyone in.'
Anyone with any information should contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 38 of April 10.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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