Great great grandad foils brazen burglars

From the archive, first published Thursday 20th Oct 2005.

GAZETTE & HERALD: GREAT-great grandparents Ron and Elsie Smith say they won't let thieves ruin their lives after being burgled for the second time in two years.

Mr Smith, 84, caught the burglars in the act after they kicked in the front door to his flat in Allington Way, Chippenham, on Thursday afternoon.

The brazen pair had walked straight past Mr and Mrs Smith, who were enjoying the autumn sunshine on a picnic bench near their home.

Mr Smith thought the men looked suspicious, and followed them, foiling their attempted burglary.

"I couldn't believe the cheek of it," said Mr Smith, a retired long distance lorry driver. "It was broad daylight but they didn't give a monkey's.

"By the time I got to the flat they'd already knocked down the door and broken the lock."

The elderly couple fell victim to bogus workers two years ago and lost £320 of their pension money.

This time, Mr Smith dialled 999 and, although the culprits got away, they didn't steal a thing.

Mr Smith said: "They didn't get a chance to grab anything because I was there straight away.

"I don't keep much cash now because of what happened last time.

"They were Irish and mumbled something about being electrical workmen looking for cables. But real workmen don't kick down your door.

"I called the police and they were here in no time. It wasn't a very nice experience, but luckily we weren't hurt. We're getting too old to let things like this frighten us.

"I reckon they'd been watching us and thought we were easy targets ­ but not me.

"I'm just waiting for the police to catch the right blokes and let me see them in an identity parade. I can remember their faces clear as day."

But the last time Mr and Mrs Smith were targeted they weren't so lucky.

Mr Smith recalls two men knocking at his front door making out they were from the water board.

"They said they were sorry to trouble me but there was a leak in the flat above and if they didn't fix it quickly it'd come through my ceiling," he said.

"One bloke talked me into giving him a hand in the kitchen while the other waited outside."

Unbeknown to Mr Smith, the first thief had left the door on the latch, making it simple for his partner in crime to walk straight in.

"I couldn't understand why the man wanted to keep the kitchen door closed, but now I know," he said.

"When he left I found they'd rifled through everything ­ and taken our pension money from the living room drawer.

"We live on our old age pension you see and it was awful to think that much money had just gone.

"Luckily my wife was out because it would have really upset her. We didn't know whether we were coming or going for a while.

"It just goes to show you can never be too trusting these days."

Police said the men escaped on foot down Hungerdown Lane. They are described as being white with Irish accents.

The first was tanned, of stocky build and about 5ft 6in tall. He wore dirty blue overalls and work shoes. The second was aged between 25 and 28, and not as stocky as the other man. He had short, dark hair, dark trousers and a bomber-style jacket.

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