Con artist couple prey on Stanmore pensioners

A mother and her partner stole from two pensioners after conning their way into their houses by asking for help to feed their baby.

An 83-year-old woman answered a knock on her back door at her home in Jesmond Way, Stanmore last Monday, and a young mother asked her to heat some water up so she could feed the baby she was carrying.

The unsuspecting pensioner let the woman in and chatted to her, and after a while a man knocked on the front door claiming to be the woman's partner.

After he came into the house the elderly woman finished heating the water and gave it to the family. However, once they had left she realised the crooks had stolen her handbag, containing credit cards and a mobile phone, as well as £130 in cash.

Only a day later, last Tuesday, the crooks stuck again. This time they targeted an 80-year-old woman at her home in Stonegrove Gardens, Edgware at 7.15pm.

One of the victims, who did not wish to be identified, has been living in fear since the robbery.

She said: "She knocked on my window and it was a nice looking girl with a baby. She said her nan lived across the road and wasn't in. Then a relation of hers rung the bell.
He waited in the hall and then left to see if their nan was in.

"As soon as the door shut behind them I noticed my bag had gone."

Fortunately a good Samaritan returned the victim's bag to her two days later after discovering it at a bus stop in Stanmore.

She said: "I was very pleased to get my bag back, but I've learnt my lesson: I'm now very wary, I don't open my door to anyone I don't know.

"Everyone needs to be careful and don't trust anyone you don't know."

The woman is described as aged between 20 and 30, and was wearing a white coat. Her partner was a white male man in his 40s, who was wearing a multi-coloured beanie hat.

A spokesman for Harrow police said: "Both crimes were virtually identical and there were two in two days. The victims are quite traumatised.

"We are appealing for residents to be on the look-out and if you see these people in the Stanmore or Edgware area acting suspiciously call Crimestoppers or 999."

n Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.