Despicable

In the first incident, a bogus water worker conned a 90-year-old widow out of her £300 Christmas pension.

She collapsed less than 24 hours after the Christmas Eve theft and died two days later. Her distraught family believe the shock contributed to her death.

In the second incident burglars ransacked the home of an 80-year-old pensioner and stole his wife's jewellery just hours after she had died.

Distraught widower George Saul, of Thornton, and his family today appealed to the burglars who stole his wife's two gold wedding rings, a diamond engagement ring and blue enamelled pill box during a break-in, to return them.

Sergeant Chris Colligan, of Toller Lane police said: "These are two despicable crimes and we need to remind people who live near the elderly that they are a target.

"We would ask people to keep watch for anything suspicious and remind them not to let anyone through their doors without checking their identification, no matter how official they look."

Mrs Hanson was found collapsed after a fall at her Girlington home on Christmas Day, less than 24 hours after a conman called at her home.

She was taken to hospital where she died. A post-mortem examination showed she died of bronchial pneumonia. But her son, Mr Richard Hanson said: "I am sure the incident contributed to her death.

"I hope the person that was responsible for the incident on Christmas Eve has a conscience and when he reads this his conscience will prick him.

"Mum was very upset and confused on Christmas Eve after the incident and the last words she said to me was that she wanted to cry.

"My mother was a very kind, religious and trusting person and this is probably why she was taken advantage of in this way.

Detective inspector Alison Rose, of Toller Lane CID, said: "This was a despicable and shocking crime where an elderly and trusting lady's Christmas pension and money was taken from her on Christmas Eve.

"I would appeal to anyone who has any information which could help us to get in touch."

Mr Saul's wife Elsie, 79, died last Tuesday and the burglars struck when he went to spend the night with relatives. When he returned he found his home had been ransacked with drawers full of the couple's clothes and belongings turned out and a plastic bag full of his wife's jewellery had gone.

He said the treasures were among the few items he had to remember his wife by.

"I just want them back. I don't care who's taken them, or why. I don't know if they are valuable, but it's the sentimental value that matters," said Mr Saul who had been married to Elsie for 58 years. The couple had been sweethearts for 65 years.

His granddaughter Kathryn Wilmot - who runs the Sun Inn pub in Haworth - said: "There were sympathy cards on the mantelpiece and a folder from the funeral director on the table, so whoever has done this must have known there had been a death in the family.

"If they are reading this I would ask them to please return the items of jewellery. They can even do it anonymously by pushing them through the letterbox of the pub. My granddad is absolutely devastated. He's had to deal with a double tragedy."

The engagement ring is set with a sapphire and two diamonds, one of which is chipped. One of the wedding rings is a plain thin gold band, the other is a broad patterned gold band set with small stones.

Other items included a gold and pearl necklace, solid gold cross and a deep red diamante v-shaped necklace.

Sergeant Roy Wensley, of Toller Lane police, said: "This is a despicable crime, more so because this gentleman's wife had died just a few hours earlier."

Anyone with information about either of the crimes is asked to contact Toller Lane police on (01274) 376285.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.