Woman jailed after DNA connects burglary incidents

Lindsey Melvin pleaded guilty to burglary in Bedfordshire and in Surrey

A woman has been jailed for burglary after her DNA was found on a mug and drink can which connected her to the crimes.

Lindsey Melvin, 33, of Granville Road, Bradford, travelled to Haslemere, Surrey, and Langford, Bedfordshire, and pretended to be a door-to-door seller.

She persuaded her victims to let her into their homes, and in one instance stole a wallet and about £400 in cash.

At Luton Crown Court she pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary dwelling and theft and was sentenced to 39 months in prison.

Targeting elderly victims

On 6 February Melvin travelled to Haslemere and persuaded an 86-year-old man to let her into his home. While he made her a drink, she then stole his wallet containing his cards and about £400 in cash.

On 23 May she stole cash and credit cards from a 79-year-old man in Bedfordshire. Police said she used the cards to buy food and spent £40 on scratchcards.

Officers from Bedfordshire Police and Surrey Police linked Melvin to the crimes using CCTV and DNA evidence from the mug she used in Surrey and a drink can she used in Bedfordshire.

Det Con Andy Boston, from Bedfordshire Police's specialist burglary team, said: "We believe Melvin was coming to the region from the north and deliberately targeting vulnerable, elderly potential victims, so it's really pleasing that she's been given this sentence.

"Here in Bedfordshire we have a specialist team focusing on burglary and we would always ask people to report suspicious behaviour. All information helps us build a picture and sometimes, like here, link cases to get a conviction."

The force has asked neighbours and relatives to keep checking on vulnerable people.