Bracknell

Bracknell Police and Age Concern are warning elderly residents to be on their guard after three people pretending to be from the charity attempted to burgle a 76-year-old woman’s home.

At 4.17pm yesterday (9/05) a young woman and two men called at the pensioner’s house in Lindenhill Road, Priestwood, Bracknell and said they worked for Age Concern.

The elderly woman let them into the house and while she was talking to the female caller in the living room she heard noises coming from upstairs. She called out and the men ran downstairs and left the Bracknell house along with the young woman. They ran up Spencer Road into Priestwood Avenue and turned right, possibly into Stoney Road.

The offenders searched the house but do not appear to have stolen anything. The men are white, possibly teenagers, and wore white T-shirts and blue jeans. They are possibly Eastern European. The woman is white, blonde and in her 20s and was wearing a yellow or green top. She is possibly British.

The elderly woman, who was alone in the house at the time, was left shaken by the incident.

Age Concern Director General Gordon Lishman said: “Have a bar or chain fitted to your front door. Keep it on when talking to callers until you are sure they are genuine. If you are not expecting a caller and someone comes to your door claiming to be from Age Concern, or any other organisation, always ask for identification. Check the identification carefully and if you have any doubts that the caller in genuine look the organisation up in the phonebook and ring their office. A genuine caller won’t mind waiting.”

If anyone saw the offenders in the area or has any information they should contact Bracknell PC Graeme Guthrie via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell