Video: CCTV captures woman stealing from deaf 92 year-old neighbour
Roy Porter and his partner Cherril decided to take action when they suspected money had been taken from Roy’s mother, Hazel Bywater.
The pair captured the burglar, Gillian Carlton King, 57, on hidden cameras, rifling through Hazel’s belongings in her flat in Bridlington, and stealing a box containing £185 from her kitchen.
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Hide AdThe two motion-sensitive cameras were installed in the flat two weeks before capturing Carlton King in the act and son Roy handed the footage over to the police.
Roy, 67, said: “She was directly in the camera line, but she knew exactly where she was going.”
Carlton King – who is a resident in the same block of flats – was charged with burglary. The former carer is currently serving nine months in prison after being sentenced at Hull Crown Court.
Roy said when he heard the judge’s verdict he was “highly delighted” and described Carlton King as “calculated” and “heartless”.
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Hide AdHe explained how Carlton King would occasionally run errands for his mother and other residents at the block of flats.
There had been a spate of thefts at the sheltered housing but it was when Hazel’s £80 pension went missing that Roy and Cherril acted.
Cherril, 63, said: “We had to catch the thief.
“Stealing is bad enough, but stealing from vulnerable people and the fact that she gained her trust it is a horrible thing to do.”
Roy now visits his mother up to twice a day due to the stress she suffered during the ordeal.
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Hide AdThe locks were changed on Hazel’s flat the day after the theft was filmed and she is now taking anti-depressants due to the stress.
Cherril said: “It is not the amount of money it is the anxiety that goes with it. She is not 100 per cent confident, she is a nervous person.
“We are a caring family and we do look after her and we do everything we can to make her comfortable and safe.
“But what about the other people that have no support, no family - how are they suffering?
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Hide Ad“I’m just pleased that we were there and she has got a family that care about her and were able to catch the thief.”
Detective Inspector Joanne Roe, of the Serious Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “This offender’s actions have been despicable. She has preyed on residents at this sheltered accommodation, targeting the elderly and vulnerable.
“Her actions were cold and calculated towards the residents who have found the whole incident very distressing.
“I praise the family for their quick actions in having CCTV fitted to their mother’s room, this has caught the offender in the act.”