A ‘bold as brass’ thief who broke into the Salford home of a wheelchair-bound pensioner and stole her handbag in front of her face is being hunted by police.
GMP have released a CCTV still of the suspected offender, who confronted an 85-year-old woman at her home on Nadine Street, Salford, sometime between 1.20pm and 1.50pm on Monday January 26.
The elderly victim was in her kitchen when she heard a noise coming from her living room. When she entered the room, she found a man standing there who said: ‘Oh there you are’.
The intruder claimed he was from a local building site but quickly left.
It was only later that the woman discovered her handbag containing her keys had been stolen by the intruder.
MAN HUNT: Police are appealing to anybody who can recognise this man (unfortunately this was the best quality CCTV available)
Police Constable Stephen Hough said: “This woman was absolutely taken aback to be confronted by a thief standing bold as brass in her living room.
“As she uses a wheelchair, she was unable to physically challenge either him or the story he concocted about being from a building site so he was able to steal her handbag before she could realise. Luckily she was able to cancel her debit and credit cards before the thief could profit from them.”
The offender is described as a 6ft tall white male, of a slim build, with grey short flat hair. He was wearing a grey or navy blue jacket, faded jeans and appeared to speak with a local accent.
Police are appealing to anyone with information about the burglary to come forward, and have released a CCTV still of a man captured on camera whom officers are keen to speak to.
PC Hough added: “I want to appeal to anyone who recognises this man from the CCTV still we have now issued to come forward.
“In our experience these sorts of criminals tend to target the same area, particularly elderly people, so please be on the lookout for this man and if you see someone matching his description lurking about, then please call us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Main image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks.
