Family 'devastated' burglars target 100-year-old widow (From Enfield Independent)

Family 'devastated' burglars target 100-year-old widow Violet Brett in Chase Side for £40

2:24pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

The family of a 100-year-old widow are “devastated” her home was burgled.

Violet Brett, who lives alone in a maisonette in Gordon Road in Chase Side, was sleeping on Thursday when two youths smashed her door down at 9pm and ransacked her lounge.

The men, described as black and about 19 years old, rifled through Mrs Brett’s things before making off with just £40 she had saved in an envelope to pay for a new pair of glasses.

Her 39-year-old grandson Paul Toomey said: “It was just so horrible.

"Fortunately, they didn’t hurt her, but when you live to that old age you want to be treated with respect.

“We are really just grateful that she wasn’t hurt, you hear of horror stories. She was so vulnerable and has lived for so long and people feel like they have the right to do something like that.”

Mrs Brett, who refuses to move to a care home, woke up during the burglary and saw the youths come into her bedroom and search through her chest of drawers.

Mr Toomey said it the burglars must have had "an attack of conscience" when they saw Mrs Brett as they chose only to take £40 when £60 was in the envelope.

Carers visit four times a day, and members of the family are concerned the men targeted the pensioner after clocking their routine.

Despite her ordeal, Mr Toomey said: “She has taken it in her stride – she is quite a resilient old lady and she has to be quite a tough cookie to live to 100 years old.

“I think she is okay, it has come as a shock but she is just trying to move forward from it. She wasn’t hurt, it's more like everyone else is really devastated.

“It is just so sad that people feel that they have a right to do that sort of thing when she has worked all her life - it is just so wrong.”

Mrs Brett’s son-in-law Bob Downing, 63, is desperate for people to come forward with information but is concerned they may be too afraid to speak to the police.

He said: “We are all a bit shaken by it and angry that she could have been hurt, these sorts of things have been happening in that part of Enfield for quite a while and the local residents are terrified of these people.”

Acting detective sergeant Robert Hood, who is investigating, said: "Being burgled is a distressing experience for anyone and can have a lasting impact on those affected.

"In this case, the victim who is 100 years old was at home at the time. I am keen to speak to anyone who can give information on this incident.

"If you were in the area at the time and saw something suspicious, please let us know."