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Suspected bogus callers arrested by police

May 29 2011 by Nigel Green

DETECTIVES have arrested a couple they suspect of stealing more than £20,000 from pensioners – including a 101-year-old woman.

The seven victims, who lived alone or in sheltered accommodation, were allegedly targeted by a woman posing as a care worker.

As she kept the women talking, it is believed a male accomplice sneaked into their homes and stole their savings.

The crimes, which happened in April and May across the region involved victims aged 74 to 101.

Police say homes were targeted in Alnwick and Berwick, in Northumberland, in North Shields, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland.

The 101-year-old victim lives in Wallsend.

The last offence took place at the home of an 84-year-old woman in Walker, Newcastle, on Tuesday evening.

But, within two hours of the last offence, a special team of Sunderland-based detectives set up to catch bogus callers arrested a man and woman at a flat in Thornaby, near Stockton, Teesside.

Police say more than £1,000 cash was also found at the address.

Last Friday, Mary Connors, aged 44, from Thornaby, and William O’Connor, aged 32, from Hayes, in Middlesex, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates Court charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.

They were remanded in custody until June 10.

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