‘This is a particularly horrific crime’ – Elderly couple’s home raided after wife taken to hospital

Burglars raided an elderly couple’s home after the wife was admitted to hospital suffering from a stroke.

Police are describing it as a “particularly horrific crime” and are appealing for witnesses and information.

It happened near to Vernon House in the Vernon Close area of Bishopthorpe between 3pm and 10pm on Tuesday (4 February).

The burglars used a garden tool to break into the house via a rear window while the 70 year-old homeowner was visiting his wife in hospital, just after she had been admitted after suffering a stroke.

They stole a £20,000 Rolex watch and a gold chain.

‘Understandably distressed’

Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Investigating Officer David Pegg from North Yorkshire Police said:

• This is a particularly horrific crime committed against an elderly couple, not least because the husband came home after visiting his wife in hospital, to discover they had been burgled.

  He was understandably distressed at the discovery, especially as his wife had only just been admitted to hospital earlier that day after having a stroke whilst he was in the middle of recovering from a heart attack himself.
  

He added: “It’s our absolute priority to catch those responsible and we’re appealing to anyone with any information that could help our investigation to get in touch.

“In particular, we’d like to hear from anyone who noticed anything suspicious or has any CCTV or dash-cam footage taken in the area at the time to contact us.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police.

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