Personable Bandits Prey On Elderly

Three bandits hit up elderly woman
Bevin Milavsky, Lehigh Valley Express-Times
August 16, 2007 12:53PM

Bethlehem police are looking for three women who stole $3,950 worth of jewelry Wednesday morning from an elderly woman's home.

Police said the a woman knocked on the door of Kathleen McBride in the 1600 block of Lois Lane shortly before noon and told her she was cleaning a home two doors down and needed to leave the homeowner a note. McBride brought her into her kitchen and gave her a pencil and paper.

The woman then started talking about a new washing machine she had purchased. She told McBride she did not know how to hook it up and asked if she could see hers. McBride took the woman into her basement.

The woman sat on the stairs, blocking McBride's path. McBride told police while she was explaining the washing machine, she heard other people upstairs and managed to push past the younger woman.

She saw two women run from the home, and the third followed them. She described the first woman as Portuguese or Hispanic, between 35 and 40, standing about 5 feet 3 inches tall and heavyset. She was wearing a pink dress.

Police Detective Sgt. Mark DiLuzio said in the warmer months police often receive reports of transient groups that come into town and prey upon the elderly.