Begging burglar robs 82-year-old in her Brighton home

A burglar barged his way into the home of an 82-year-old woman, knocked her to the floor and robbed her of hundreds of pounds in cash.

The pensioner answered her door at about 9pm on Sunday evening (11 May) to a man who asked for £10 to help support his baby.

She asked him to wait at the door of her flat in Chesham Street in Kemp Town and she went inside and shut the door.

The thief then barged his way into the woman’s flat, grabbed a wallet containing hundreds of pounds from the victim and knocked her to the floor.

She suffered a minor cut to her arm and was shaken by what had happened so was taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital to be examined.

Sussex Police said that the man was wearing dark clothing including a hooded top.

Detective Constable Scott Moore said: “It looks like the man deliberately targeted the victim as she seems to have been the only person whose door he knocked on.

“She is very upset at what has happened.

“We need to speak to anyone who heard the victim scream during the incident and may have seen the burglar leaving.

“If you know anything at all, please contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.