Fraudster steals £15 from Dolly, 89

4:00pm Thursday 28th August 2008

Cruel thieves have left an 89-year-old woman so terrified she is scared to stay alone in her own home.

Wheelchair-bound Dolly Pierce was left devastated when a con artist tricked his way into her home and stole valuables – the fourth time in seven years she has been robbed.

Police yesterday condemned the thief and urged other pensioners to watch our for fraudsters who could target them.

The thief, believed to be in his 50s, called at the pensioner’s flat in Blackman Street, Brighton, at about 2pm on Saturday, claiming he worked for the council and needed access to her balcony to carry out work on the flat next door.

Trusting Ms Pierce let the man into her flat and even escorted him to the balcony in her wheelchair.

But the conman went back indoors and took her purse containing about £15 and a number of credit cards.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “The fact that he targeted this lady because of her age and put her through a terrible ordeal for only £15 makes it a heartless crime and one police officers find sickening.

“You do not have to let people in and if you are uncertain then don’t, however persuasive or plausible the caller is. It is better that a genuine caller is turned away than a burglar is let in.”

The intruder is about 5ft 8in tall and of slim build, with a local accent.

The pensioner has previously had her purse stolen from her bag during a shopping trip and had her bag snatched from her by teenagers, once while walking near North Road in Brighton and once near her home.

Brighton-born Ms Pierce is now being looked after by her son Ted.

She said: “As soon as I realised what had happened I was in tears.

I can’t sleep at night now. It really upset me.

“It was a silly thing. I should have put the chain across the door but he got me in such a muddle.”

Her son said: “I make sure she never has very much money in her purse at any one time. But this is her independence money. It allows her to get the small things she needs so it makes me very sad that someone would take it.”

Police are advising people to use door chains, ask for the identification of a caller and to check any profession they give in a phone book.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: “All council staff carry identification and I would reiterate police advice that residents check the identification of any caller.”

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