Burglars con elderly couple out of £5,000

AN ELDERLY couple have been robbed of their savings by distraction burglars in Ruislip.

The couple – a 90-year-old woman and her 89-year-old Second World War veteran husband – were targeted at their home in Field End Road on Tuesday, January 19.

One man came to the door and another sneaked upstairs and snatched in excess of £5,000 in cash from the couple’s bedroom, which they had been saving for home improvements.

The burglary was just five days after Alfred and Enid Pegler, aged 84 and 95, were robbed at their Harefield home of just £75, as reported in last week’s Gazette.

After the latest incident, the Crime Awareness Group for Ruislip and Eastcote set up a crowdfunding page. In just four hours, £680 was raised and money is continuing to come in.

Alan Palmer, who set up the crime awareness group, said: “It’s another sad tale. This happened during the day, it’s a beautiful house and they are a really lovely couple.

“The good that’ll come out of it, is that the community will come together and we’ll have another bumper collection.”

He added: “We need to reach out to residents to stop them keeping cash in the building. But we also want local bobbies available on the ground.”

Inspector Rob Bryan of Hillingdon Police said: “Distraction burglars will often work in groups of two or more and will case the neighbourhood for potential victims.

“They might flash some ID, but once in they will keep the householder busy while their accomplice burgles the house. Don’t let anyone in until you have checked them out.”

You can donate to the crowdfunding page by visiting: https://crowdfunding. justgiving.com/FieldEndRoad