A 92-year-old man had his head cracked against the floor “several times” during a vicious burglary that left him with severe bruising.
Frank Davis opened the door to a man at around 6pm on Friday in the area of George Nutt Close, Northampton. The man barged passed him before attacking and then demanded money.
The man stole cash before making a dark reference about the pensioner “being lucky” he had money before he left.
Speaking about the incident, Frank Davis, said: “He grabbed my face with his hands and dug his fingers in. It really hurt. He hit my head against the floor several times.
“He asked for money, I was so afraid, I thought I better tell him otherwise he would kill me. I had no choice. I was scared and afraid for my life.
“I don’t know how someone can do this. He came into my house, and attacked a vulnerable man like me.
“These people have no conscience. I really thought I would be killed if I didn’t tell him where the money was.”
The horrific attack comes as police are probing two separate distraction burglaries, which saw a pensioner slapped and another threatened with a knife.
An artist’s impression has been released following a distraction burglary, at around 3pm on Saturday in the area of London Road.
During the incident, the offender (pictured here wearing a cap) knocked on the door of a 90-year-old man, claiming to be from the water board and needing to check the water supply.
Once in the property, he pulled a knife on the victim and demanded money. He then made off with a quantity of cash.
A third incident was also reported to the police last Thursday, in Delapre Crescent Road. At around 3pm when a man knocked on the door of an 84-year-old woman and again claimed to be from the water board.
He pushed his way into the house and instructed the victim to test the taps. When she became suspicious and asked him to leave he slapped her and demanded money. He then left the property having stolen a quantity of cash.
This latest series comes after seven distraction incidents were reported to police since early June.
While in some of the cases entry was not made by the offender, in others cash was stolen or the victim was assaulted.
The earliest report of a distraction incident was received on June 7, in Treetops, Northampton.
Police have released this second artists’ impression of a man wanted in connection with this incident.
A second report of an incident was reported on July 12 in Bedford Road East, and a third incident was reported on July 13 in Pennycress Place.
Another incident was reported on August 19, in the same road.
Three separate incidents were reported on the evening of August 26, one in Pennycress Place, one in Pleydell Road and one in Sheraton Close, Northampton.
Detective Inspector Lorraine Gordon, who is investigating the incidents, said: “These are very serious incidents. Typically distraction burglaries, although unpleasant do not involve violence. What we have seen in the most recent incidents is an unusual level of violence on vulnerable victims.
“In particular, the attack on Mr Davis was callous and unnecessary, and we need to identify the offender responsible.
“We are doing everything we can to investigate theses crimes, and desperately need anyone with information to come forward. We also need family and friends who know of elderly residents to warn them and ensure they do not open the door to unknown visitors.
“If necessary, they can speak to them through the letterbox and ask them to return when there is an appropriate relative in the house who can check the visitors ID.
“We have issued two separate artist’s impressions of people we want to trace in connection with these crimes.
“Although there have been a number of distraction type incidents in Northampton recently, they are rare and at this stage there is nothing to suggest they are connected.
“We are carrying out regular patrols in the neighbourhoods and have investigators working to identify the offenders responsible. We would ask members of the public to contact us immediately if they have any information that can help the investigation and quote Operation Inferno when they call.”