A 72-year-old woman was tied up in her bedroom by three men in an aggravated burglary in Seamons Close yesterday (August 2).
The pensioner discovered the men in her home when she came downstairs after having a bath at about 1pm.
One of the men had knocked on her front door at just before the bath asking if ‘Chris’ was at home, and when she told him he must have the wrong house, he left.
After her bath, she then found the same man in her kitchen, along with two other men who were wearing balaclava-like masks.
The men, one of whom spoke with a Polish accent, demanded gold, threatened her and pushed her around the house.
They searched for her valuables and then tied her up in the bedroom and left.
She was able to free herself and phone for help.
It was the second aggravated burglary in South Beds reported to Beds Police yesterday, and police believe elderly people with Asian gold are being targeted.
Police are warning residents to be vigilant and ensure their back door is locked if they go to answer the front door and vice-versa.
In a similar distraction burglary in Wood Green Road, Luton, at about 3.30pm, a 77-year-old man answered the door to a man asking if he needed any gardening doing.
While he was at the door two other men entered by the back door and the three demanded gold.
They threatened the elderly male victim with a screwdriver and while this was going on his wife returned home and was also assaulted.
The couple were left with cuts and bruises but it is unclear what was taken.
The burglars are described as white, muscular men, and a white Range Rover and bottle green transit van were seen near the house at the time of the incident.
If you have any information about the burglaries call Det Con Ian Knapgate on 101.