Burglary Shock: Scammer Sneaks into Elderly Women’s Homes for Bath and Booty
John Boothby, 54, pulled off a shocking double break-in targeting two vulnerable elderly women in their own homes. His bizarre crime spree started on July 20, when he struck up a chat over leaflets at an 84-year-old’s Monument Street house – only to sneak inside later while she was napping.
He Runs a Bath, Steals Priceless Family Heirlooms
- Boothby apologised when caught inside but legged it, grabbing the woman’s handbag before dropping it in the garden.
- The victim later found her bathroom taps running and Boothby’s t-shirt on the floor.
- He’d run himself a bath and nicked a treasured wedding ring from her late mother, along with decades of anniversary telegrams – including one sent by the Queen – plus other jewellery.
Second Break-In: Caught Mid-Shower by Another Elderly Victim
Less than two hours later, Boothby broke into a home on Dickens Street. He slipped into the downstairs bathroom unnoticed – until the 80-year-old owner found him half-naked in the shower.
Police Slam ‘Unbelievable’ Crimes of Opportunist Burglar
“In all my years as a police officer I haven’t ever come across anyone quite like Boothby,” said DC Adam Blake from the Acquisitive Crime Team. “He entered the homes of two elderly women who lived alone, to take advantage of their vulnerability.”
Boothby’s sloppy mistakes soon caught up with him. The day after his crime spree, a 60-year-old woman found keys inside a ‘bag for life’ in her larder. She then spotted one of her handbags outside with a pen on top – a suspicious detail that led her to dial 999.
Forensic officers matched Boothby’s fingerprints to the pen, linking him to the Eastfield burglaries. Despite denying three charges of burglary, he was found guilty at Cambridge Crown Court.
Today (Tuesday 22 December), Boothby, who has no fixed address, was sentenced to three years behind bars.
