‘Distraction burglar’ jailed after stealing cash and bank cards from elderly man in Langford

Lindsey Melvin, 33, got inside the home of a 79-year-old man in Langford on May 23, while pretending to be a door-to-door saleswoman.

She stole cash and bank cards, using them to buy food, £40 worth of scratch cards and fast food.

Three months before, she had persuaded another elderly man to allow her into his home in Haslemere, Surrey.

As he made her a drink, she stole his wallet and left with his cards and £400 in cash.

Officers from both counties used CCTV footage and DNA evidence from the mug she used in Surrey and a drink can in Bedfordshire to identify Melvin.

At Luton Crown Court Melvin, now of St Ives Road, Woodhurst, Cambridgeshire, admitted two charges of burglary, two of fraud by false representation and a charge of racially aggravated harassment. She was jailed for three years and three months.

Detective Constable Andy Boston said: “We believe Melvin was coming to the region from the north and deliberately targeting vulnerable, elderly potential victims, so it’s really pleasing that she’s been given this sentence.

“Here in Bedfordshire we have a specialist team focusing on burglary and we would always ask people to report suspicious behaviour. All information helps us build a picture and sometimes, like here, link cases to get a conviction.

“We would also ask neighbours and relatives to keep checking on potentially vulnerable people.”