Woman, 77, dies as she tells police of break-in at her home
A PENSIONER was so distressed by burglars raiding her home that she collapsed while calling the police – and later died.
Maureen Whale, 77, collapsed she was talking to a 999 operator.
She was making a desperate call after her home was invaded by three youths.
Police and paramedics raced to the scene and desperately tried to resuscitate Ms Whale, who had lived in the small detached property all her life.
She was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died yesterday morning.
Detectives are now investigating whether the break-in was linked to three other burglaries which took place nearby on Tuesday evening.
It is believed the three suspects recruited two children aged 12 to 14, who were then stationed on their bikes to act as lookouts.
Yesterday police stood guard outside Ms Whale’s home in Bells Hill in Barnet, north London, where the hooded gang struck at 6pm on Tuesday. It is not thought they stole any items of great value.
They escaped after being spooked when next-door neighbour Michael Murphy accidentally set off his alarm.
CCTV footage – from cameras Mr Murphy had installed after he was burgled – has been handed to police.
It showed the gang walking away from the property as Ms Whale frantically tried to raise the alarm inside.
Mr Murphy, 55, said: “I think it’s disgusting. These people are feral. I came home from work and the as burglary was in progress. I didn’t see them but it was all captured on my CCTV. When I came in I didn’t turn off the alarm in time and it went off.
“That’s when they fled, but they were very calm about it.
“The only time Maureen went to the door was if she was getting a delivery of shopping from Iceland and she knew when it was coming. She would stay up through the night watching TV or listening to the radio downstairs, then would sleep in the day.
“There were no lights on and she was probably in bed when they broke in. The CCTV shows them peering in through the kitchen window.
“They then decided it was safe enough to go in. They let themselves in through the side door.”
Mr Murphy, who runs a garage, said: “Maureen didn’t have great health in the last few years. She was always hard of breathing.
“I wouldn’t have thought she had very much of value to steal. I dread to think what her last memories were.”
Ms Whale had lived at the property all her life, originally with her parents Phyllis and George and her brother Roy, who died six years ago.
Melvyn Eyres, 67, whose home was also broken into, said: “They smashed the door and ransacked the place.
“Then they went across the road to where Maureen lives.
Rampage
“An ambulance came. They were doing CPR and then took her away.”
Another neighbour said: “We want to do something about it but we’d end up in trouble – these sickos went on a rampage.”
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our focus now is catching the culprits behind this burglary which has contributed to the death of an elderly woman.
“This burglary has ended with the worst possible consequences. A wonderful elderly lady has died.
“With that in mind, I want to reach out and make a direct appeal to anyone from the criminal fraternity who has information to contact us.
“You will know and discussions will be going on about who is involved and where any stolen property is.”
Call police on 0208 785 8099.