Jewellery robbers target pensioner
Published 23 Mar 2011 17:25
Share this
See also:
POLICE are warning people to be on their guard after female robbers ripped a gold chain from a pensioner's neck.
A 78-year-old woman was stopped in Glebe Road in east Reading at 12.40pm yesterday by two women who pretended to ask directions and then tried to offer her cheap jewellery.
They forcibly hung two necklaces around her neck, but when she refused to pay for them they snatched them back, ripping off her gold chain and fleeing.
Another woman was stopped in Alexandra Road at 2pm yesterday by a woman using a similar scam. But on that occasion the robber fled empty-handed in a car when she was rebuffed.
Reading crime reduction adviser John McNicholas said: "We are only aware of two incidents of this nature, but I am anxious that there are not any more, so we feel it is important to make people aware of this type of crime.
"My advice to anyone stopped in this way would be to make it clear from the start that you are not interested in what they are selling.
"Move away from them and don't allow yourself to be put in a position where they are putting jewellery on your body."
Police are urging anyone with information to contact them on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
