Archive - Thursday, 15 November 2001


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

OAP in raider alert

A PENARTH pensioner who was cruelly robbed in her own home is warning others to be on the look out.

Widow Elizabeth Stickler, 83, of Brangwyn Close, Cogan, is appealing to residents to learn a lesson from her shocking story.

The shaken octogenarian told the Times how she was sitting at home on Saturday, October 10, waiting for her grandson.

She opened the door at 5pm expecting Matthew but was confronted by a man claiming to be from the water board.

Elizabeth said: He pushed past me and tried to open the back door. It was locked so he went into the kitchen and turned on the taps. I thought it was suspicious, so when he told me to go upstairs and run the bathroom taps, I took my handbag with me.

But as she passed the man to go upstairs, he grabbed her handbag and ran out of the house.

I was going Christmas shopping, so I had cash for that. I had £100 of Asda saving stamps and another £100 in Asda vouchers, Elizabeth said. Matthew, 25, said: Its disgusting. These people dont care what they are stealing. It makes me wonder how they have the conscience to spend the money.

My gran kept priceless photographs in her bag, and theyre lost forever. How can they sleep at night?

Elizabeth added: What bothers me most is that Ive lost my only picture of my brother, and a gift from an old friend. Both are dead now, so the items were precious to me. But give me a week, and Ill be back on my feet. All I can do is hope people read about this and keep their wits about them.

Police believe this is a sign that a gang operating in Wales is now in Penarth.

A spokesman said: There have been a spate of burglaries in Cardiff and Newport. We are co-ordinating with officers in these forces, but we are keeping an open mind about the Penarth incidents.