Maureen Whale | MET POLICE
Detectives investigating the death of Maureen Whale after her home was burgled have found a handbag that was stolen by the suspect.
Maureen, 77, died in hospital after her home was burgled in Barnet just before 18:00 on December 4th. It is believed the burglars had targeted three other properties that evening.
Maureen had called the police when the burglars were in her home, but she collapsed when on the phone to the operator. Police and an ambulance were sent to the house and emergency aid was given by the first officer there. She was taken to North London Hospital in a critical condition and passed way in morning of December 5th.
A post mortem showed her death was caused by coronary heart disease, this means her death was caused by the stress of the incident. Her death is being treated as manslaughter.
On December 13th, Maureen’s black handbag was found stuffed in a hedge on the outskirts of Ravenscroft Park, nearly half a mile north of Maureen’s home in Bells Hill.
CCTV images have been released of the suspects, police are looking for two young boys seen in the area as they could be important witnesses.
Police also want to speak to the driver of a small four-door hatchback car, which travelled up Bells Hill towards Lexington Way at 17:52. The car may have been a Skoda Fabia and the driver travelled directly past the suspects. That driver has not yet come forward.
Suspect 1 climbed over the outside gate, opened it then entered the house. He is seen wearing a black zip-through gilet over a light-coloured long sleeve top and a dark coloured woollen beanie/hat.
Suspect 2 entered the house with a wore a long-sleeved top with dark patches, he wore a hood up (possibly fur trim on hood) with dark trousers and light-coloured trainers.
Suspect 3 was a ‘look-out’ and stood looking out the window for anyone coming. He was dressed in a long-sleeved, dark-coloured hooded top/jacket. He wore a baseball cap underneath the hood of his jacket, light-coloured jogging bottoms and dark trainers
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This is a highly significant discovery by a member of the public. We are confident that after burgling Maureen’s house, the suspects made their way up Bells Hill.
“We believe they then most probably walked through or around Ravenscroft Gardens [the park] which would have been open at the time.
“I would like to appeal for anyone who was around Ravenscroft Gardens and Ravenscroft Park between 6 and 6.30pm on 4 December. Did you see three males – matching the CCTV images – loitering, disposing of the bag, or otherwise acting suspiciously? We are asking local people to think back and retrace your steps to establish if you were in the area. If you were in the area and you didn’t see anything – it would be helpful to hear from so we can build up a picture of who was about.
“We have had a good response to previous appeals; through the public we have traced the two males on the bicycles, but no arrests have been made to date and we still need the help of the community to identify the people behind this.
“Had Maureen Whale not been burgled, she would have celebrated her 78th birthday on 13 December and she would now be preparing to celebrate Christmas.
“I am appealing to burglars and handlers – you will know who is responsible, a wonderful lady is no longer with us due to the callous actions of three burglars, willing to break into a house when an elderly lady was at home alone – you owe them no loyalties.”
No arrests have been made.
