Lost dog plea used by Shropshire raiders

Distraction burglars claiming to have lost their dog targeted a 75-year-old woman at her Shropshire home.

Police today said three men called at the woman’s home in Wood Road, Hadnall, near Shrewsbury.

Officers believe one of them kept the woman talking while the others broke in and searched the property.

It happened just before noon on Friday.

Investigators said it is not yet known if anything was stolen and appealed for witnesses. They have also urged residents to be on guard against distraction burglars.

Detective Constable Dave Bettison said: “The woman did exactly the right thing by refusing to open the door or the window to them.

“However, it seems one man kept talking to her through the closed window about a lost dog, distracting her, while others broke in.

“It happened at about 11.30am and they were there for about half an hour before leaving in a dirty yellow van with mesh sides heading for Albrighton.”