Elderly woman 'thought she might die' after thieves smothered her and ransacked home

Appeal: Margaret Miller has told how two thieves pinned her down and ransacked her home
Tracy Assuncao
Saphora Smith8 December 2016
WEST END FINAL

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An elderly woman said she thought she might die after two men burst into her home, pinned her to her bed and ransacked her apartment.

Margaret Miller, 72, said she was on the verge of falling asleep at her flat in sout-east London when she heard shouting and pounding at her door.

She told the Standard: “I heard people shouting ‘open the door, open the door.’

“I asked who they were but they were already kicking it down.

“When they burst through they grabbed hold of me and manhandled me into my bedroom where one pinned me to the bed.

Margaret Miller said she suffered wool burns from the thieves' gloves (Tracy Assuncao)
Margaret Miller

“He squeezed my neck with one hand and covered my mouth and nose with the other so I couldn’t breathe.

“The other one started ransacking the bedroom, going through the drawers and pulling everything out of the cupboards.

“They kept shouting ‘where is the money? Where is the money?’ But I was losing consciousness.

“I started bending the man’s finger back trying to break it so he’d move his hand.

“I kept thinking 'I have to stay alive, keep calm and think clearly'.

“I pushed his finger back and managed to say that my bag was in the hallway which they seemed to accept.”

The apartment block where the robbery took place
Tracy Assuncao

Police said emergency services raced to the address in Chislehurst Road in Sidcup at around 11pm on Tuesday after reports of an aggravated burglary.

They said the suspects were wearing balaclavas and are thought to be white or olive skinned and possibly Eastern European.

One is thought to be around five foot seven inches tall with stocky build, and the other taller and thinner.

Ms Miller, who is a retired teacher, said at one point she thought she might die: “He almost killed me, but I don’t think he meant to.

“I think they were high as kites, they were very aggressive.”

Kicked in: Margaret Miller's door was reportedly kicked down by the thieves
Tracy Assuncao

Describing her injuries the 72-year-old said: “I have wool burns around my neck from their woollen gloves and bruises on my face, and the inside of my mouth is sore where my teeth bit into my gums but I’m okay. I’m just very tired.”

Ms Miller, who lives alone, said she felt “seriously shaken” but refused to be a victim.

She said: “I may be the subject of an aggravated burglary, but I’m not a victim.”

Police said ambulance services attended the scene of the attack but Ms Miller didn’t need to go to hospital.

Tracy Assuncao, 51, who lives in the flat above, said she was watching television when she heard a loud banging and Ms Miller screaming.

She said: “At first I thought it might be my neighbours having a row but it got louder and louder and then I heard the screaming.

“My daughter woke up and all we could hear was ‘Tracy, Tracy, help, help.

“It was horrible we didn’t know what to do.”

Ms Assuncao said police had told everyone to barricade the doors to their apartments just in case the burglars came back.

“We’re absolutely terrified; I’ve got two kitchen chairs behind my door.

“The men have all her door keys and the police said they might well come back.

“It makes me feel sick to think about it - we’re living in fear. “

Detectives from Bexley CIF said they were investigating the incident and urged any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

To give information call Bexley CID via 101 or if you wish to speak anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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