Police have linked the burglary of a pensioner in Honiton in December and two ‘miscreants’ seen days later trying door handles at nearby homes.
Burglars at the start of December stole a small amount of cash from an elderly victim while they were out nearby visiting a friend, and within days police launched a witness appeal to identify two hooded men captured on nearby CCTV.
Days later, on December 6, two people were spotted walking into gardens in Chestnut Way, trying door handles of homes a short distance from the burglary.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said: “The incidents are believed to be linked.”
Police urged anyone going out or away over the festive period to securely lock homes to prevent crime over Christmas.
A police spokesperson for the East Devon area said: ‘We don’t want anyone losing their kid’s presents to these people, nor do we want that cliché proposal you’ve planned ruined by the ring being stolen.
“With this in mind, we implore you to be vigilant and keep your doors locked and secure, even if leaving for a moment to visit a friend over the road.”
Burglars struck at around 4.15pm on December 1, pinching cash from a home in Roman Way, Honiton, while the elderly victim was out.
When the victim returned half an hour later, a small amount of cash had gone.
Burglars struck in Roman Way, Honiton, at the start of December.
Stock image: Google Street View.
The police spokesperson said: “The elderly victim of this brazen intrusion was not in the address, but had left to visit a friend around the corner and left the rear doors to the address unlocked as they did so.
“They returned to the address to find the mess left behind by the offenders.
“At this time, it appears that minimal property has been taken, however, this short time frame is all it took to disrupt the victim’s life at arguably the busiest time of day.”
They added: “We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen anything to report it to us.
“This is especially the case if you have camera footage of the area from that time, or saw two potentially male individuals wearing grey hooded tops in the area.”
The police spokesperson said: “We’d also like to remind people that if you leave your address, even for a short period of time, please lock your doors behind you.”
Within days police said officers were ‘aware of a pair of miscreants’ trying their luck in Chestnut Way, Honiton and other locations described as ‘opposite ends of the town’.
Two men were spotted walking into gardens and trying door handles of homes a short distance from the burglary, in Chestnut Way, Honiton.
Image: Google Street View.
The police spokesperson said the pair had been seen over several hours, from 4pm-9pm, ‘walking down garden paths, into people’s gardens and also trying door handles in an attempt to gain entry to properties.’
If you have information or CCTV footage to help police, call 101 or report it through the force website.
