DETECTIVES have stepped up their hunt for a gang who are still at large after being linked to a string of gold thefts from homes across the town.

The Adver broke the news a month ago about a gang targeting the homes of Asian families and stealing jewellery in a bid to cash in on soaring gold prices and police have issued safety advice because they are still at large.

The most recent incident, in Grange Drive on 6 September, saw theives raid the home of an 82-year-old woman bedridden with a serious illness, who was startled to find a burglar in her bedroom.

Detective Constable Claire Dunwell-Smith said: “We have linked six burglaries in Swindon over the summer months, five of which affected Asian families. The common thread is that they occurred in large detached properties and high-value gold and jewellery was the target.

“Such burglaries have been seen across the UK because of the current high value of gold and are not confined to Swindon.

“We have been speaking to community groups to ensure they are taking proper precautions to protect their property.”

DC Dunwell-Smith said the elderly victim of the latest attack had been left shaken by the incident.

She said: “The lady was startled and asked who had let him in. He wrongly told her that her son had done so.

“The man went back downstairs and, believing that her son had opened his door to them, she got out of bed and slowly followed him although she was extremely unwell.

“He asked her to sit down in the lounge and then she saw a second man in the house. She became scared of the men and started to raise the alarm by phoning her son.

"The first man went back upstairs. Moments later, both men left the house.
“While the lady was distracted they had stolen jewellery valued at thousands of pounds from a wardrobe in her bedroom.

“From talking to the victim and neighbours, we have built up descriptions of both men and have produced an e-fit image of the first man.”

The first man is described as white, aged 25 to 30, with a young-looking round face. He was clean shaven with short dark hair and round eyes, of stocky build and quietly spoken.

He was wearing a black baseball cap and black jacket and trousers, possibly a track suit.

The second man is described as being white and aged 40 to 50 with a longer face than the first man. He appeared to be wearing similar black top and trousers.

For crime prevention advice visit www.wiltshire.police.uk.

Anyone with any information should contact Swindon Priority Crime Team at Gablecross Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.