Scared to death

Family says the trauma of robbery was too much to take for ill OAP
A GREAT-grandmother was found dead at her Failsworth home only five days after she endured a traumatic burglary.

The family of Beryl Taylor (74), who had been ill for some time, believe her death was accelerated by the burglary.

Mrs Taylor’s daughter Christine said: “We can’t make any funeral arrangements yet as the coroner is still deciding whether to do a post-mortem examination. It’s making it hard to move forwards.

“I wouldn’t like to say what I would like to do to the people responsible. One burglar would have been bad enough but there was three of them. It’s not nice when someone comes into your home and does that. Mum was really upset after it happened. The things they took were of no great value so it makes it even worse.

“All we can do now is hope that someone will come forward who knows the people responsible and help us get justice.”

The three men stole cash and a games console from the woman’s home in Clough Road at 10.30am on Thursday, May 19.

The first offender barged past her at the front door, telling her he needed to check her water supply.

He walked into the kitchen despite Mrs Taylor asking him to leave and began to turn the taps on and off repeatedly.

While this was happening, two other men entered the house and ransacked the upstairs bedrooms.

The incident left Mrs Taylor, who had lived alone since the death of her husband Les 10 years ago, extremely shaken.

A neighbour discovered that she had died when she called on Tuesday.

Christine added: “The family believes the burglary accelerated mum’s death.”

Police are not linking Mrs Taylor’s death with the burglary but are still appealing for witnesses to the incident.

The man who entered the kitchen is described as white, 30-years-old, 5ft 4in tall, of slim build with short dark hair and a goatee beard. He was wearing a blue v-neck jumper, dark blue jeans and spoke with a foreign accent.

The other two are both described as white, in their mid 20s and wearing dark blue clothing.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161-856 8951 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.