Burglar who stole £16,000 from elderly man jailed
The money was hidden in a grandfather clock
A burglar who defrauded and stole £16,000 from an elderly man has been jailed for more than four years.
23 year old Sam Smith from Bedfordshire went to the 80-year-old’s home in Warboys, near Huntingdon, in March 2023 and offered to paint his front door and windowsill for £400.
The victim agreed to the work and went to get the cash from a grandfather clock his bedroom while Smith followed.
Smith took the money for the work but didn’t return to complete it despite saying he would be back in a few hours.
At about 11.30pm the same day, the victim was awoken by Smith and an accomplice using a sledgehammer to break in through the back door.
They took £16,000 from the grandfather clock and tipped the victim out of bed before leaving.
The victim suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
Smith’s DNA was found on the sledgehammer, which had been left at the scene, and he was arrested in Boston a week later.
In an impact statement, the victim said he struggled to get to sleep at night and was “scared” someone would come back.
At Cambridge Crown Court, Smith, of Common Road, Potton, Sandy, Bedfordshire, was jailed for 57 months, having pleaded guilty to burglary and fraud.
PC Andy Smith said: “This was a despicable burglary and fraud where Smith took advantage of a vulnerable elderly man. Sadly, the case also demonstrates the lasting psychological impact burglary can have on victims and shows why it remains a force priority.
“We will continue to do all we can to get those who target vulnerable people before the courts.”