Crimebeat: Thugs assault 92-year-old man

Dec 19 2012 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

Crimebeat

A gang of thugs assaulted a 92-year-old Motherwell man in his own home before stealing money from him.

The sickening incident took place at a property on Clyde Valley Avenue last Wednesday afternoon.

The three thieves had turned up at the elderly man’s home on the pretext of offering to carry out repair work.

Once inside the house they became aggressive and pushed and threatened the old man before stealing a three-figure sum of cash from him.

Fortunately the elderly victim was not hurt and did not require medical treatment.

Inspector Alex Graham of Wishaw police said: “We are working very hard within North Lanarkshire to stop bogus caller crimes. If you have concerns regarding the validity or legitimacy of any person who attends your home address offering any kind of service without being invited to do so I would ask you call the police or trading standards.

“Do not entertain anyone who attends your door pretending that something is wrong with your property as you will know before anyone if something needs attending to. If you suspect anyone who may be involved in this type of activity then please call the police or Crimestoppers and report them.

“The police, along with trading standards, take this type of crime very seriously and you can expect them to come down hard on anyone operating in this way.”

Anyone with information relating to this particular crime can contact the CID department at Wishaw police on 01698 202600 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Bumbling thieves who stole a trailer in Shotts last week did not get far – the trailer was recovered crashed through a fence a short distance away.

The theft occurred between 4pm on Thursday, December 13, and 8am the following morning from a property on Bon Accord Crescent.

Anyone with information relating to this crime can contact PC Kidd at Shotts police on 01501 820506.

Two cars were set alight last week in a Wishaw industrial estate in what police are treating as an act of wilful fireraising.

The incident occurred in a commercial premises on the Etna Industrial Estate in Craigneuk at 11pm last Tuesday, December 11. Anyone with information regarding this crime can contact PC Lightbody at Wishaw police on 01698 202600 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Vandals in Motherwell went on a window-smashing spree last Friday night when a dozen panes were broken in Grange Tower.

The incident occurred between 7pm and 10pm and anyone with information relating to the identity of the perpetrators can contact PC Anderson at Motherwell police on 01698 483000.