'Father and son' steal from pensioners in festive scam

POLICE are hunting a modern-day "Fagin" who uses a 12-year-old boy to steal from elderly residents across the Lothians.

Detectives believe the pair could be father and son. They have struck at least three times since the start of December.

In the latest crime, the thieves targeted the home of an 87-year-old Bathgate woman, walking in through her unlocked door.

Once inside the house, the man distracted the pensioner, keeping her busy talking, while the boy went through to the kitchen, going through drawers and cupboards, before finding her handbag with £265 Christmas money inside.

Details of the incident on December 13 have only just come to light as detectives step up the hunt for the pair.

A police spokesman said today: "These villains are the lowest of the low, victimising the elderly.

"We are very keen to track them down, as we believe this is the third time they have struck in December.

"They are particularly cold and calculating, and leave their victims in a very distressed state.

"We urge everyone to keep their homes properly secure and not to open their doors to anyone they don't know. If someone does come to the door, always ask for identification, especially if it is someone that you were not expecting to be at your house.

"If you are in doubt, then send them away and call the police."

He added: "What makes these incidents more disturbing is that a young boy is involved with an adult, most probably his father. It is like something from Oliver Twist."

The man is described as around 40 with a fair complexion and stout build. He was wearing a black woollen hat, black anorak and black trousers, with a local accent.

The boy is aged around 12, thin, with a fair complexion, and was dressed similarly to the man.

The thefts come just weeks after pensioners in the Lothians fell victim to a gang pretending to be CID detectives offering crime prevention advice and equipment, before plundering 18 homes.

An 80-year-old woman had a four-figure sum taken from her home in Musselburgh, while pensioners in Portobello and elsewhere in Edinburgh were also targeted.

Pensioners have been warned not to keep large amounts of cash in their homes, as well as fitting a spy hole and chain on their doors, and not to open the door to strangers.

A spokeswoman for Help the Aged urged elderly residents to take extra care when confronted by cold callers.

She said: "The most important thing for elderly people to remember when answering the door to callers that they don't know is not to let them in until they can be sure that they are genuine."

• Anyone with information on the latest robberies should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.