3:23pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
Thieves posing as workmen stole a Skipton pensioner’s jewellery and money.
The man, who lives in Duke Street, opened his door to a man who asked him about a lost puppy at 6.50pm on Wednesday last week. He then said he was in the area cleaning drains and needed to get in the house.
Once he was inside, a second man entered and took jewellery and a wallet, which was put in a pillow case. Among items stolen were four old gold-coloured £2 coins, which are no longer in circulation, and a gold military badge with an engraved crown.
Also taken were two silver Charles and Diana £5 coins, a gold necklace with a Queen Elizabeth II sovereign and a gold ring with three diamonds, two sapphires and white diamonds set into the band.
Police believe the crime may be linked to an incident in Bankwell Road, Giggleswick, at lunchtime on Monday, when two men called at a pensioner’s home claiming they had lost their dog’s ball. The resident joined the search and one of the men was subsequently seen in the kitchen. Nothing was stolen.
A spokeswoman for Skipton Police urged anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to get in touch.
“These are people who target elderly people and prey on the vulnerable; they can be very plausible,” she said. “We have not had this type of crime in Craven for several months and now we have two in a week. People need to be on their guard.”
She urged vulnerable people to fit door chains, to always ask for identification or, if in doubt, to call police.
One of the Skipton suspects was white, 30 to 35 and about 5ft 9ins. He wore dark clothing and a baseball cap and had a defect in his right eye.
The Giggleswick suspects were both white, in their 40s and wore bobble hats. One was 5ft 8ins, with a ruddy complexion and had a red rucksack. The other was olive-skinned and had a foreign accent.
Anyone with information is asked to call Skipton Police on 0845 6060 247.
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