Pensioner robbed by conmen 'detectives'

By Anh Nguyen

A PENSIONER was left feeling ‘sick’ after she was robbed by two people posing as police officers.
The pair made off with a money belt after gaining entry into the elderly woman’s flat by pretending to be plain clothed police detectiveÅs investigating a violent robbery in the block of flats off Canonbury Road.
Jennifer Bynes, 66, who walks with a stick, was returning from grocery shopping on Upper Street when she saw the man and woman waiting outside the communal entrance to her flat.
The young woman offered to carry Mrs Bynes’ shopping into her flat, insisting that they needed to speak to her husband.
“They got themselves in by saying that an old lady living in these flats had been assaulted and robbed,” said Mrs Bynes.
“They said they were making certain that everyone was safe because this old lady had been put into hospital and because the thief was a locksmith, they feared he would come back. They were trying to find out what things I had that was of value.”
Mrs Bynes told the fraudsters that her credit cards were in the money belt she wore around her waist, which also contained her keys and £12.
She said: “I only realized anything was wrong when they snatched the purse and ran out the back, through the garden.”
Although neither Mrs Bynes nor her husband Dennis, 67, who suffers from motor neurone disease which means he has no use of his arms, were hurt, they were both upset after the incident.
“I felt shaken and a bit sick, but didn’t want Dennis to see,” said Mrs Bynes. “He felt shaken and a bit sick too but he didn’t want me to see."
The incident is the second time Mrs Bynes has been robbed since moving into the area ten months ago.