Caught on film, the well-to-do pensioners pilfering from jewellery shop
CCTV shows the couple carrying bags as they enter the shop THESE smartly dressed pensioners are being hunted by police after pilfering jewellery from a store and dropping it into a shopping bag.
Shop owner Lisa Blatch said she could not believe her eyes when she saw the alleged culprits in CCTV footage.
After realising a necklace valued at £65 was missing from her shop last week, Lisa viewed clips and witnessed an elderly man swipe the jewellery into a large carrier bag before leaving the store.
Lisa decided to share a clip of the CCTV footage online. But while some viewers claimed to know the names of the couple in the images, there have been no arrests.
Lisa, who owns Scape Interiors, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, said: “I was shocked when I realised the thieves were an elderly couple.
“It goes to show that anyone is capable of a crime and that we shouldn’t judge anyone on their appearance`.
“There seems to be a growing trend of elderly people turning to theft and I hope the CCTV footage is a warning to other business owners that pensioners are capable of robbing too.
“Young thieves turn into old thieves so it’s not surprising that there are more elderly people apparently doing this now. I have some great customers and since sharing the post online, it has been viewed by over 10,000 people. I’m sure we’ll get justice eventually.”
Scape Interiors – a stylish furniture and jewellery store – will now be more vigilant towards elderly thieves.
Lisa, who is in her forties, added: “The couple in this CCTV [footage] were carrying empty shopping bags with them which, looking back, is a little strange.
“I wasn’t working when this theft took place, but thieves are so clever these days that it’s impossible to watch every single person.
“Even though we don’t get a lot of thieves, we did have two £700 rugs stolen not long ago which were rolled up and placed into an empty pram.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are investigating the theft from a shop in Leigh-on-Sea on June 22.
“Around midday, a man entered the store on Broadway and picked up an item which he left the shop with, without making an attempt to pay for it. Enquiries are ongoing.” The well-dressed man appears to swipe a necklace, circled