A 52-year-old conman pretended to be a council worker in order to steal from a vulnerable woman in Bulwell.
Dean Marriott pleaded guilty to burglary and theft when he appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 29 January.
Marriott, who said he was a council worker there to check a gas leak, pretended to use a remote control to scan different areas around the house in Aldgate Close, Bulwell, on Friday 21 January before proceeding to distract his elderly victim and steal a number of possessions.
The man, of no fixed address, left the residence with the elderly lady’s phone and handbag shortly after.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police were able to identify Marriott thanks to CCTV filmed outside the property, showing him looking through the kitchen window before setting about his crime.
He was then chased by officers after returning to the property five hours later carrying a plastic bag containing the stolen iPhone 12.
Marriott said he returned to the address because someone had “told me to bring (it) back because it’s all over Facebook.”
The 52-year-old will appear in front of Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 21 February.
Detective Constable Demi Robertson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been able to secure a conviction in this case, which saw a thief deceive his way into someone’s home under false pretences.”
She added: “Stamping out burglaries from our communities is one of our key priorities as a Force – we know how important it is for people to feel safe within their own homes.
“Targeting vulnerable individuals is completely unacceptable.
“Burglary is such an intrusive crime that sadly can have both a financial and lasting emotional impact on victims, so it is absolutely imperative that the public know that we’re doing everything in our powers to crack down on incidents like this.
“The message is clear – burglary and theft will never be tolerated and offenders will be found and punished.”
