‘Fake officer’ stabs man in his 80s with screwdriver during series of burglaries

Three such burglaries take place in Leicestershire within two hours

A series of robberies have been carried out by one or more men claiming to be police officers in Leicestershire (AFP/Getty)

A man in his 80s has been stabbed in his own home with a screwdriver by a man impersonating a police officer.

After forcing his way into the house, the intruder also attacked a woman in her 70s and stole jewellery before leaving the property, Leicestershire Police said.

It is one of a series of burglaries carried out within the space of two hours by one or multiple men posing as a police officer.

Around an hour after the initial burglary in Loughborough at 7pm, another address was raided in the Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.

The burglar forced his way past a woman in her 70s who opened the door, stealing cash, jewellery and a mobile phone.

A third house was then burgled in inner city Leicester just before 8.30pm, with the imposter officer knocking a septuagenarian woman to the floor before stealing money and jewellery.

Some 15 minutes later, residents in nearby Narborough called the police after a man knocked on their door claiming to be a police officer. He left after they became suspicious.

The elderly man stabbed with a screwdriver sustained minor injuries, police said.

Investigators believe the same person or people are responsible for each incident.

“In each report, the man was wearing a high-visibility jacket and had their face covered. Given the time that each incident occurred, it’s believed the suspect or suspects used a vehicle,” said Detective Sergeant Scott Cairns, from the force’s complex investigation team.

“I’d like to speak to anyone who has any information or who was also visited by someone claiming to be a police officer but has not yet contacted police. Any details you’re able to provide, no matter how insignificant you think they may be, could help our investigation.

“I’d also like to ask members of the public to remain vigilant. If someone visits your address and you are suspicious of who they’re claiming to be, ask for proof of identification.”

It is not the first Leicestershire burglary where males impersonating police officers have used a screwdriver to threaten residents.

In November 2018, two men claiming to be officers forced their way into a family home in Loughborough brandishing a screwdriver, stealing £2,000 in cash, valuable jewellery and the keys to a BMW, the Leicester Mercury reported.