Con artist strikes in Motherwell

Feb 24 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

A CON-artist made off with jewellery after gaining access to an elderly lady’s house by phoning the day before to arrange a supposed appointment.

The 66-year-old victim received a call on Monday, February 14, from what she believed was a bona fide representative of a known organisation.

The following day the woman turned up as planned at 3.45pm at the house on Dechmont Avenue, Motherwell.

During the visit, the woman asked the homeowner if she could use the upstairs toilet at which she entered a room and stole a nine carat gold ring with blue stones and a set of pearls.

The woman suspect is described as 30, slim build and spoke in a west of Scotland accent. She had dark brown hair tied back in a bun style and was wearing a dark coat.

The woman made off in a royal blue Peugeot 107 car.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two men broke into St Luke’s Roman Catholic Presbytery on Davaar Drive, Motherwell, and stole a 27” LCD television.

The theft occurred between 5.13pm and 5.23 pm on February 15.

The first suspect is described as aged 20 to 25, around 5ft 10 to 6ft, thin, and had dark brown hair. He was wearing a grey/fawn tracksuit jacket and trousers with white trainers.

The second suspect is described as a aged 22 to 28, around 5ft6 to 5ft 8 and with stocky build and a fair/ginger crewcut hairstyle. He was wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.

A TOSHIBA laptop, bank cards, money and a black handbag were stolen during a break in to a house on Kethers Street, Motherwell, between 5pm and 8.45pm on February 20.

LEAD thieves have once again struck in the Motherwell area.

In the first case staff at the Mandarin restaurant reported a ceiling leak and later found that a quantity of lead have been stolen from the roof of the restaurant. The theft took place between 10pm on February 15 and 5pm on February 17.

In a similar case the gardener of Our Lady and Good Aid Cathedral House, Coursington Road, Motherwell, discovered a large piece of lead within the garden area.

A roofing contractor discovered five large pieces of lead had been stolen from the roof.

The lead was taken between 10pm on February 15 and 10am the following day.