Police have arrested a man on suspicion of theft and fraud after neighbourhood police officers in Ealing visited a vulnerable 91-year-old woman and discovered she was being defrauded of her life savings as her late husband was being looked after at a care home.
On 30 December last year, Ealing Safer Neighbourhood Team made a welfare call to the Ealing woman after her bank raised concerns about activity on her bank account.
At her Ealing home, officers arrested a 64-year-old man on suspicion of theft and fraud. During a search of his property they found more than £25,000 in cash and seized an expensive luxury Mercedes Benz car under the Proceeds of Crime Act. They also discovered other suspected stolen property.
Following the arrest, officers have continued to visit the woman on a daily basis and took her to see her 100-year-old husband in his care home, before he passed away last week.
Ealing Police sergeant James Lenton said: “As local neighbourhood officers we make it our business to get to know the local residents and businesses – particularly those who are vulnerable. We work with them to identify and tackle local crime and policing issues so the communities we serve are safe and protected from criminals.”
PS Lenton added: “Thankfully we were able to help this local resident and will continue to work with partners to ensure that she and other residents vulnerable to crime are protected and offenders brought to justice.”
