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Pensioner threatened with knife in terrifying Smethwick burglary

A pensioner was threatened with a knife by a distraction burglar who claimed to need water for his broken down car.

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The man claimed to need water for his broken down car, before forcing his way in armed with a knife

The 80-year-old man had answered his front door in Thimblemill Road, in Smethwick, to a man holding a bucket.

The man claimed to need water for his car and the pensioner asked to him wait outside while he fetched some.

But the burglar forced his way into the home and pulled out a knife, demanding money from the man.

The thief fled the scene with cash and a bank card – after making the elderly man provide his PIN number.

The terrifying incident unfolded at around 7.10pm on Thursday night.

The pensioner was left shaken but fortunately uninjured.

West Midlands Police has launched an investigation and is conducting CCTV and house-to-house enquiries to identify the burglar, as well as increasing patrols in the area.

The burglar is believed to be a white male in his 20s.

DC Kenny Crawford, from Force CID at Sandwell, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal and we need to find the coward who did this. We are working round the clock to identify this man.”

Anyone with information is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101, quoting incident number 20SW/26596C/19. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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