Burglar Who Stole From Man Who Offered Water Jailed for Five Years
A heartless burglar who took advantage of a kind man’s generosity has been locked up for five years. Richard Todd, 32, knocked on a victim’s door in New Romney asking for a glass of water – then swiped his bank card and ran up fraudulent transactions.
Thief Poses as Neighbour, Then Tricks Victim
On the morning of 21 May 2019, Todd showed up at the victim’s St Andrew’s Road home around 10am. After getting a glass of water, he came back shortly after asking to use the bathroom – gaining trust before striking.
During one of his visits, Todd stealthily pinched the victim’s wallets. Just two and a half hours later, the victim got a call from a woman claiming to be from his bank, asking for his PIN to “confirm” ownership of a found wallet. The victim unknowingly handed over his PIN.
CCTV Snaps Todd With Dead Man’s Card
Following the call, £500 was stolen from the victim’s account. CCTV footage caught Todd withdrawing cash from a convenience store in Dymchurch. He then used the same card to top up a mobile phone at the same shop.
Todd, from Wickham Road, Fleet, Hampshire, admitted fraud but denied burglary. A jury found him guilty at 1 Crown Court, where he was sentenced on 19 November 2019.
Police Slam Burglar’s Callous Trick
“Richard Todd completely abused the generosity shown to him by the victim and caused a huge amount of distress,” said PC Paul Marsh, the lead investigator. “We are pleased justice has been served and Todd can no longer prey on innocent people.”
PC Marsh also warned the public about rising burglary risks in the festive season. “Darker evenings and empty homes provide easy targets. We urge everyone to visit our website for tips on keeping safe.”
