Fake police raid pensioner's home (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Fake police raid pensioner's home

9:06am Thursday 28th June 2007 in Swindon By Raeanne Nightingale

Balaclava-clad men claiming to be police forced their way into an elderly man's home at 3am yesterday morning.

The pair told the shocked pensioner they were officers and showed some form of ID before ransacking the house in Affleck Close, Swindon looking for valuables.

As well as a quantity of cash they also took cigarettes.

The man lives in sheltered accommodation. His wife, who does not live at the address, said: "I think they must have known he was here.

"They wouldn't have been able to get into the main block. Some of these houses are rented, but I think they targeted him because he's vulnerable.

"They pretended to be the police so he opened the door. He is still very worried about opening the door for anyone now.

"They only managed to take some cash and cigarettes, but made a mess looking through everything and really shook him up."

The victim lives in a house that is part of a Swindon Council-owned community housing scheme, but is not part of Salzgitter Court's main block.

Salzgitter Court warden Marie Denton was alerted at about 3am by the distressed resident. She said: "After the burglars left he called me over and I said we had better call the police. So he called them.

"They came around right away, but he is obviously still very shaken up."

Salzgitter Court resident Kenneth Green said: "He is such a nice man. It is a terrible thing to happen to him.

"They couldn't have got into the main block, because of the CCTV and security door. And if the police really did call they would go to the main entrance and call the warden.

"If they rang the bell of an individual you could just switch the telly on and see who it was on the screen.

"But the ones on the other side don't have that kind of protection and I don't think the security cameras would show that far.

"The police have been out collecting forensics. Hopefully it will mean they can catch whoever did it."

Swindon Council-run Salzgitter Court has 24 flats for residents inside the main block. There are a further 17 sheltered flats in Affleck Close that are not covered by the communal door entry system and CCTV.

Council spokeswoman Victoria Tagg said: "We are shocked by this incident and extend our sympathies to our tenant.

"The council hopes the culprits are caught and will be liaising with the police crime prevention officer to see what can be done to make the tenant's home more secure."

There is no further description of the men, who made off on foot.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 408 7000.

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