Sisters, aged 100 and 106, robbed by 'despicable' bogus officials

Police have condemned as “heinous and despicable” thieves who stole the savings of two sisters with a combined age of 206.

Annie Horsman, 106, and her sister Alice, 100, were targeted at their bungalow in Rochdale, Lancashire, by three people pretending to be officials from the water board. Alice had answered the door to two Asian men and a woman, but after one of the men barged in under the pretext of checking her water supply, another member of the gang stole a large amount of cash from under the sofa.

Alice tried to give chase when the offenders fled but fell and hit her head, suffering minor injuries.

The sisters’ niece, Margaret Wild, said: “They’ve had a bad shock but they’re all right. Alice is not well so I don’t think she could feel much worse than she does.”

PC Mark Challender of Greater Manchester police said: “Words cannot describe how heinous and despicable this crime was. To steal cash from such an elderly and vulnerable woman is an unforgivable, disgusting offence.

“I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who would do that. I can only hope they have enough of a conscience that they feel utterly ashamed and hand themselves in.”