An 83-year-old woman had jewellery stolen from her home in Barton-Le-Clay during a distraction burglary on Thursday.
The incident took place at around 2.45pm as the victim was tending her front garden in Cromwell Road. A man started talking to the victim about gardening and the two chatted for several minutes.
As this conversation took place, a second offender used a key that the victim had on a string to gain entry to her home and stole two lockets. The first offender then left the front of the house with the second offender following soon afterwards.
Detective Constable Surfaz Hussain, who is investigating the distraction burglary, is keen to hear from anyone who was in Cromwell Road at the time of the incident and may have seen the offenders either before or afterwards.
The first offender – who talked to the victim – was a white man, around 40 years old, 5ft 8ins tall, well built, with short brown hair, wearing dark clothing and spoke with an English accent.
The second offender – who entered the house – was also a white man, around 40 years old, 5ft 7ins tall and wearing a baseball cap.
DC Hussain said: “These offenders appear to have deliberately picked on an elderly woman and taken advantage of her. The victim has been left extremely distressed by what has happened and we really need the public’s help in identifying the offenders.
“We would remind everyone to be extremely cautious about anyone calling at their home, to always use a spy hole and door chain and to insist on identification. If you are in any way suspicious, dial 999.
“We would really like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time or anyone else who may have information – however small or insignificant they think it is – that could help us. Don’t dismiss your information as unimportant – even tiny details which don’t seem relevant now might become useful later on in the investigation.”
If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC Hussain, in confidence, on 01582 394435, the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.