Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
A woman has been jailed for more than three years after admitting distraction burglaries In Bedfordshire and Surrey where she targeted vulnerable, elderly victims.
On 6 February, Lindsey Melvin, 33, went to Haslemere, pretending to sell door to door. She persuaded an 86-year-old man to allow her to enter his home. While he made her a drink, she stole his wallet, containing cards and £400 in cash before making her escape.
Three months later, on 23 May she managed to get inside the home of a 79-year-old vulnerable man in Langford, Bedfordshire, stealing cash and credit cards. She used the cards to buy food and £40 of scratchcards in a local shop before going on St Ives to buy fast food.
After the crimes were reported, officers from the Bedfordshire and Surrey worked together to identify Melvin linking the crimes using CCTV and DNA evidence from the mug she used in the Surry crime and a drink can in Bedfordshire.
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 sentenced to a total of three years and three months in prison.
Detective Constable Andy Boston of Bedfordshire Police’s specialist burglary team, Operation Maze, 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.”
People can report information via our online reporting centre or by calling 101.