OAP faces down gang of thieves in 2am break-in

Police are seeking information on the three men who attempted to rob the house of a woman in her 70s. Picture: John Devlin

The startled OAP woke up in the early hours of yesterday to hear a commotion outside her property in Lorne Grove in Loanhead.

In a quick-thinking move, the brave pensioner rushed into her living room to switch on her lights, in the hope this would deter any would-be thieves.

But just minutes later, three men broke into the house and demanded money from her in a “horrendous ordeal”.

Despite the threats, the woman, believed to be in her 70s, refused their demands – and the trio fled the small housing estate towards the Straiton Retail Park on the A701.

All three men were wearing dark hooded tops and spoke with Scottish accents and police are keen to trace them as soon as possible.

Detective Inspector Steven Bertram, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are currently pursuing a number of lines of inquiry but I would ask anyone who was in the area of Lorne Grove at around 1.50am on Friday and who remembers seeing the men or any suspicious activity to please contact police as soon as possible.

“This was a horrendous ordeal for the victim to go through and although she was not physically harmed in any way the incident has understandably left her badly shaken.”

In a separate alarming case, a woman was attacked and robbed by two teenagers after she answered her door to them in broad daylight.

The young men hit the victim on her body and forced their way into her home on Quarry Road, Fauldhouse, West Lothian at around 3pm on Thursday.

They demanded that the woman hand over money and her mobile phone but they left the property empty-handed. They were last seen heading towards the Greenwell Street area, before they were lost to sight.

Detective Constable Dougie Gilmour said: “Thankfully, the victim was not seriously injured. However, she has been left badly shaken and we are very keen to trace the two suspects as quickly as possible.

“A robust and thorough investigation is now under way and as part of this officers have spoken with a number of people in the community as well as reviewed local CCTV footage.”

The first suspect is described as white, around 5ft 8in and in his late teens with a slim build. The second man was also white, around 5ft 6in, in his late teens and stocky. Both men were wearing hooded tops, dark jogging bottoms and spoke with a local accent.

Det Con Gilmour added: “The suspects were last seen making off in the direction of Greenwell Street so I would appeal to anyone who saw these men or who have information that can assist with our ongoing investigation to please get in touch with police on the 101 number or, alternatively the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”