Police seek witnesses after raid on woman of 93

POLICE have appealed for information from the public following a callous burglary on an elderly woman at Burtonwood – reported by Warrington-Worldwide yesterday.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the offences which involved a woman of 93.
The offences was at about 11.30am yesterday when three men knocked on the woman’s door in Penkford Lane, Burtonwood.
When she answered the door three men were standing in her front garden and a fourth was sitting in a white van wearing a hi-vis jacket.
The men claimed they were from the water board and asked to come into the property to check the water metre.
The victim let one man into the address but left the door open. The man was shown the water meter and he then said he needed to see the kitchen to check the taps. He distracted the victim by asking her to remove some cleaning products from underneath her sink and while she was doing this she saw one of the other men enter her living room.
She asked the man what he was doing and grabbed hold of his arm. A third man then came downstairs and all three men ran out of the address into the white van which then drove off in the direction of Burtonwood.
The men stole approximately £100.
The first man is described was in his 40s, approximately 5’7”, medium build, with a local accent and wearing a hi-vis vest.
The second male was in his early 20s with dark hair and the third is described as in his 20s with light coloured hair.
Detective Constable Vicky Hancox said: “These men have used a vulnerable woman’s trusting nature as a way to steal money. It is utterly disgusting and we need the help of everyone in the community to catch the thieves.
“If you are unsure about whether to let someone in who calls do not let them in. Ask for identification and do not call any of the numbers they give you. Find a number in the phone book or online. If you have any doubts ask them to come back another time when you are not alone.
“There is no such thing as the water board any more. There are water companies but if anyone says they are from the water board please call the police.
“If you have any information about this incident please call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number IML 227599.”