Police Appeal for Help Finding 'Despicable' Burglar

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CCTV footage released of man preying on elderly woman in Wandsworth Bridge Road

Detectives in Hammersmith and Fulham investigating the burglary of a vulnerable 89-year-old woman have issued CCTV footage in the hope of identifying a man they are keen to speak with.

Police say at 2.18pm on Friday, 11 December, a man knocked on the door of a residential address on Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6.

When the victim opened the door to the man, he stated that he was doing building work on her neighbour's roof and that he had noticed her roof was also damaged. The man offered to fix it.

The man entered the address and the victim handed him £15. After the man left the location the victim noticed a further £65 had been taken from her purse. The victim's roof was, in fact, not damaged and no work has been carried out on it.

CCTV inside the address captured the man speaking to the victim at 2.33pm as he explains the length of time it would take to fix the roof. They both walk past the camera into another part of the house and a few minutes later he emerges, leaving via the front door, at 2.41pm.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who recognises the suspect. He is described as white, between 45-60 years old, clean shaven, balding with some hair around the sides. He was wearing a dark Barbour style jacket over a light coloured shirt.

Detective Constable Simon Monga, Hammersmith and Fulham CID said: "This was a despicable crime against a vulnerable woman. The man completely took advantage of her trusting nature and now she is left out of pocket at Christmas time. We need to find this man and make sure this does not happen to another unsuspecting victim."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Simon Monga in Hammersmith and Fulham CID on 020 8246 2505 quoting CRIS 6026204/15 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

The clock on the footage shows the burglar entering the property at 12:57 on 30 September 2014, but this is actually 14:34 on 11 December 2015.

December 22, 2015