A PAIR of hapless burglars are on the run after being caught in the act on CCTV – despite stealing the cameras.
The two thieves inadvertently captured themselves in the act of ransacking an 83-year-old woman’s home in the Sheldon area of Birmingham.
They told the pensioner they worked for the ‘gas board’ before forcing open her safe, and grabbed her indoor CCTV equipment thinking they’d got away with it.
Unluckily for them, police managed to download the images recorded from a central database.
Detectives have now released the images, showing the two men caught in the act while raiding their elderly victim’s home.
The intruders, who committed the shameless theft at around 11am on Monday, gained access to the property after smashing open a key box.
One of them attempted to hide his face with a black folder but was clearly visible as he grabbed the camera.
Sergeant Tom Lyons, West Midlands Police investigator, said: "Two men forced their way into an elderly woman's home, and that is quite simply unacceptable.
"HD cameras installed inside the house recorded the incident and, although the callous thieves attempted to cover their tracks by stealing the equipment, officers were able to download and secure the footage from a central database.
"I'm concerned these individuals will seek out and target other vulnerable members of the community so identifying them is a priority.
"We really need people to come forward if they recognise the men, so we can put a stop to what they're doing."
