Burglar targets elderly days after Christmas (From Sutton Guardian)

Police release e-fit of suspected burglar in Sutton and Banstead

11:20am Monday 7th January 2013 in News By James Pepper

Police are searching for a callous burglar who tricked a woman into letting him into a sheltered accommodation block.

An 87-year-old woman had £50 stolen from Dorothy Pettingell House on Vermont Road, Sutton, along with a jewellery box on December 28.

A man called on the flat saying he had seen a boy climb out of her window with a large quantity of money.

The man then search through her belongings on the pretence of looking for any missing money.

In another incident, a man entered another flat and chatted to the 83-year-old woman about checking her windows.

Whilst they were talking, another man entered and searched the flat. After the men had left, the resident discovered that two £20 notes had been taken from her purse.

Police have released an e-fit of one of the suspected burglars who pounced between 8.15pm and 9pm.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged 35, of stocky/chubby build, slightly shorter than 6ft, clean shaven with a clear complexion and sharp features.

He was wearing a fawn woolly hat covering all of his hair and a dark navy jacket.

The other suspect is described as white man, aged 20, of medium build and 6ft tall.

He had fair hair, no beard or glasses, and was wearing a woolly navy blue hat, a navy top, dark baggy trousers and trainers.

The e-fit image was released by Surrey Police following two distraction burglaries within minutes of each other in Banstead, also on the 28th December 2012.

If you know the identity of the man in the e-fit image, or saw anyone acting suspiciously around this block of flats at these times, please contact Sutton's Burglary and Robbery Investigation Team on 020 8649 0777.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.