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‘Callous’ thief targeted frail and elderly


AMANhas been jailed for a string of distraction burglaries – includ- ing two of a 92-year-oldwoman in Aylesford. Ambrose Treeby (33) repeatedly


tricked his way into the homes of vulnerable victims and stolemoney fromthem. He was described as “heartless”


by a judge who sentenced him to four years and four months in prison. Treeby, pictured, formerly of


Queen Street, PaddockWood, had previously pleaded guilty to four burglaries and one attempted bur- glary. Two further charges of fraud and an attempted burglarywere left on file. In total, he stole £800 fromthe 92-


year-old, of Woodlands Road, Aylesford. He first targeted her on September 1, 2016,when he claimed to be from a local housing associa- tion, telling her she had a faultwith her telephone, but while she was distracted he stole £500. He returned just six days later,


claiming he needed to remove a fridge.After asking for a hot drink, he suddenly left and £300 was found to bemissing. Either side of those two offences,


he twice targeted an 89-year-old woman in BardenRoad, Tonbridge. On August 17, 2016, she paid him £40 to take away a mattress, which he did not do, and on September 9, he told her to give him a blank cheque as he posed as a worker fromthe local councilwhowas fol- lowing up a complaint about rats. Police were alerted and the chequewas stopped.


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Sussex, also reported being targets. Treeby was arrested on Septem-


ber 21, 2016. Kent Police’s investi- gation included evidence from a witness who saw himacting suspi- ciously outside the Aylesford ad- dress, who had noted his vehicle registration and later picked him out at an identification parade. Detective Sergeant Suzie Basford


said: “Ambrose Treeby is a despica- ble and callous individual who has shown no regardwhatsoever for the huge distress and anxiety he has caused to hismany victims.He has deliberately targeted the frail and vulnerable, tricking his way into their homes before stealing any money he could get his hands on.” She said that the consequences of


his actions had left his victims liv- ing in real fear, one of whom had now passed away. She hoped Treeby’s sentence would reassure those affected by his crimes.


Possible link in garden tool thefts


GARDENERS across Malling and Maidstone are being asked to check whether a haul of recovered stolen power tools could be theirs. The tools, which include a red, silver and black petrol Kawasaki hedge cutter (left); a red, black and silverMitox petrol strim- mer and a green, electric grass strimmer are among the items. They were found at properties linked to twomen in


their 20s, from East Peckham and East Malling, who were arrested after their vehicle was stopped by offi- cers inWrothamon January 26. It is believed the tools were taken from sheds and


outbuildings in rural areas of west Kent. Police are hopeful that identification will help their


inquiries.Officers are exploring the possibility that recent reported thefts of car and tractor batteriesmay be linked. Call the police appeals line on 01622 604100 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.


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