Vulnerable Surrey pensioner targeted by distraction burglar posing as door to door seller
A vulnerable Surrey pensioner was targeted by a distraction burglar posing as a door to door seller. She stole his wallet containing £400 in cash while he made her a drink.
Lindsey Melvin, 33, knocked on the man's door in Haslemere on February 6. She persuaded the 86-year-old to let her in - before fleeing with the wallet.
Three months later, Melvin also targeted a 79-year-old man in Langford, Bedfordshire, stealing cash and credit cards. She used the cards to buy food and £40 of scratch cards in a local shop before going on to buy fast food.
After the crimes were reported, police officers from the Bedfordshire and Surrey worked together to identify Melvin. She was linked to the crimes using CCTV and DNA evidence from the mug she used in the Surry crime and a drink can in Bedfordshire.
At Luton Crown Court Melvin, now of St Ives Road, Woodhurst, Cambridgeshire, admitted two charges of burglary, two of fraud by false representation and a charge of racially aggravated harassment. She was sentenced to a total of three years and three months in prison.
Detective Constable Andy Boston of Bedfordshire Police’s specialist burglary team, Operation Maze, said: “We believe Melvin was coming to the region from the north and deliberately targeting vulnerable, elderly potential victims, so it’s really pleasing that she’s been given this sentence. Here in Bedfordshire we have a specialist team focusing on burglary and we would always ask people to report suspicious behaviour.
"All information helps us build a picture and sometimes, like here, link cases to get a conviction. We would also ask neighbours and relatives to keep checking on potentially vulnerable people."
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