Watch out for Fagin's thieves (From Stroud News and Journal)

Watch out for Fagin's thieves

FAGIN-style burglaries have been carried out in the Stroud area this week.

Women victims in their 90s have fallen prey to children who have tricked their way into homes.

police received reports of two very similar burglaries in Slad and Cashes Green on Thursday where a teenage girl and an accomplice thought to be as young as ten hoodwinked an elderly woman and made of with cash.

A 93-year-old woman in The Wordens, Cashes Green, answered the door between 5pm and 6pm to a girl who claimed her brother had lost his ball in a hedge in her back garden.

The women went with the girl, described believed to be between 13 and 17 years old with brown hair in a pony tail, to look for the ball.

While she was distracted a young boy sneaked into her house and stole her purse.

Shortly afterwards a 95-year-old woman in Slad was also targeted by young thieves.

The woman spotted a girl in the garden of her isolated house in Rosebank.

"She went out to talk to her," said Sgt Alistair Barby of Stroud police.

"And it is thought the boy got into her house and again made off with the woman's purse."

Both elderly women were left confused and distressed by the crimes and police believe they could be linked.

Door to door enquiries are now underway and police are keen to speak to anyone who may know the identity of the children.

"At that age it is likely they are local," said Sgt Barby. "Unless they were being driven by an adult accomplice."