BATTLING granny Olive Cook today hit out at the thieves who burgled her on the eve of her 90th birthday – but they could not stop her dancing.The pensioner, of Gleneagles Drive, Ipswich, was targeted in one of six distraction burglaries carried out in Suffolk within a two-day period.

BATTLING granny Olive Cook today hit out at the thieves who burgled her on the eve of her 90th birthday - but they could not stop her dancing.

The pensioner, of Gleneagles Drive, Ipswich, was targeted in one of six distraction burglaries carried out in Suffolk within a two-day period.

Mrs Cook lost about £90 in cash to the crooks, who conned their way into her home by asking to check the plumbing in her kitchen to help them fit a kitchen at a nearby house.

After asking her to run her kitchen tap, the offenders used the opportunity to steal cash from her purse kept in the adjoining hallway.

But far from letting them put the dampers on her big day, Mrs Cook defiantly carried on with her birthday celebrations with a party attended by more than 80 people.

She said: "I was so annoyed because I'd so close to my 90th birthday without being duped but then on the eve of it I was.

"But I wasn't going to let them ruin it. It was wonderful day - really something special. I was worn out dancing and I had all my family there."

It is thought the men who targeted Mrs Cook could have also been responsible for similar crimes carried out in Lowestoft, Woodbridge and Frostenden on Friday and Saturday.

Detectives are also probing possible links with four more incidents north of the border, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. These took place within a two-hour period on Saturday, targeting victims in their 70s and 80s each time.

Three of the burglaries took place in Lowestoft, at the homes of three women in their 80s.

A 97-year-old woman, of Elmhurst Court, Woodbridge and an 87-year-old woman, of Gipsy Lane, Frostenden also fell victim on Saturday.

Small quantities of cash were taken on each occasion, with two men said to be responsible.

Anne-Marie Breach, a spokeswoman for Suffolk police, said: "These are heartless crimes committed against vulnerable victims and we would urge anybody with information about the incidents to contact us as soon as possible."

She also urged people not to let people into their homes without asking for proof of identification first.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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