Disabled pensioner robbed in her own home

A CALLOUS thief conned his way into a disabled pensioner’s home and snatched her handbag containing a substantial amount of cash.

The crook struck at 1.30pm last Monday when the bed-ridden, 70-year-old woman answered the buzzer of her home.

She allowed the man into her Bridge Street home in Shaw when he claimed to be interested in buying a caravan that was parked near her house. He distracted the woman by asking her to write down the number of the person selling the caravan.

She only noticed the handbag was missing after the man left.

Detective Constable Paul Cockburn, of Oldham CID, said: “This woman is vulnerable because of her health problems, and that would have been clear to this burglar.

“What he did was sneaky and mean and it has left his victim feeling angry, humiliated and extremely distressed.

“It is vital that he is caught, so I’m appealing to anyone who may have any information that could help us track him down to call us.”

The bag is made of black silk with a black embroidered flower on it. The offender is described as being a white man, aged between 45 and 50 years old, around 5ft 7in tall with brown wavy hair.

He was wearing a dark blue anorak and had a local accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oldham CID on 0161-856 8951 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.