Appeal after distraction burglary in Tiverton

At around 2:30pm on Friday the 10th of February, the suspect knocked on the door of an elderly woman who was in her home at Elmore Way in Tiverton.

The suspect claimed that she was in the area visiting a neighbour who wasn’t in, and convinced the victim to let her into her home to allow her to warm-up.

Whilst the victim was making the suspect a cup of tea, £100 pounds was taken from her purse.

The suspect is described as a white female, aged between 30 and 43, 5’6” tall, slim build, wearing a black felt hat with felt flowers on the right hand side.  She was wearing a long plain black coat, with knee high black boots with laces that go all the way up the front to the knee. She was also carrying a brown leather bucket handbag.

PC Tom Coulston said: “Whilst we are currently investigation this specific incident and are appealing for witnesses, experience has taught us that this will usually be part of a wider number of similar incidents in localised areas.

“Therefore, we are asking for people to be vigilant in the Mid-Devon and Tiverton area, and our advice is to be wary of people who you do not know calling at your home address unannounced.

“Do not let anybody you don’t know into your home, and we ask that the community looks out for each other; if you see anyone suspicious in the area, please call the police.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/10305/17. You can also give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0888 555 111.