Incidents of targeting elderly individuals in Taunton and the West Midlands prompt police investigations, with CCTV images released in hopes of identifying suspects.
Police investigations are currently underway in Taunton and across the West Midlands after two separate incidents involving the targeting of elderly individuals. In Taunton, an elderly woman in her 70s was assaulted on February 3 between 1-2pm while riding her mobility scooter on East Street. According to Avon and Somerset Police, she was approached by two men who shouted at her before pushing her over, resulting in serious injuries, including fractured ribs and bruises. Following the incident, police have released CCTV images of the two men they would like to identify in connection with the assault.
The suspects are described as two bald, white men of medium to large build, both sporting white beards. One of the men was reported to be in a wheelchair, and both had two sandy-coloured small dogs with them. Police Constable Ayden Hockey, involved in the case, stated, “Since receiving the report, we have conducted a number of enquiries into this incident to understand what happened and to identify the individuals involved.” He emphasized the ongoing efforts to gather witness accounts and examine local businesses’ CCTV footage.
Meanwhile, in the West Midlands, a series of distraction thefts—commonly referred to as ‘bird mess’ crimes—have been reported across Solihull, Wolverhampton, and Coventry. Victims, primarily elderly individuals, have been approached by suspects who falsely claim that they have bird mess on their clothing, offering to clean it, while secretly stealing cash. West Midlands Police has issued CCTV images of two men believed to be linked to these incidents.
The latest reported theft occurred in Broadgate, Coventry, where an elderly man was targeted and had a significant amount of cash stolen while being distracted by one of the suspects. The first suspect is described as a white, clean-shaven man wearing a grey flat cap and a blue puffer jacket, while the second suspect is of Asian appearance, clean-shaven, and seen wearing clear-framed glasses and dark clothing.
Police are urging anyone who may recognise the individuals in the images or who has information pertinent to the inquiries to come forward. Individuals are encouraged to contact the respective police forces by calling the non-emergency number 101, quoting the relevant crime reference numbers for these cases.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk – This URL supports the claim about the assault of an elderly woman in Taunton by providing general information on how Avon and Somerset Police handle such incidents and appeals for information.
- https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/ – This URL corroborates the ongoing CCTV appeal and investigation into the assault of a woman in her 70s in Taunton.
- https://somersetleveller.co.uk/crime/cctv-appeal-after-woman-pushed-over-in-her-mobility-scooter-in-taunton-street/ – This URL provides additional details about the incident in Taunton, including the time and location of the assault.
- https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/ – Although not directly mentioned in the search results, this URL would typically provide information on the activities and investigations of West Midlands Police, including potential details on distraction thefts.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire – This URL could potentially provide news coverage of incidents in Coventry, including distraction thefts, although specific details were not found in the search results.
- https://www.police.uk/ – This URL offers general information on policing in the UK, including how to report crimes and access local policing news, which could be relevant to both incidents mentioned.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incidents described are recent, with specific dates mentioned (February 3), indicating that the content is fresh and not recycled from older reports.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from Police Constable Ayden Hockey appears to be original to this context, but without further online sources, it’s difficult to confirm its first use. However, it seems likely to be a genuine statement from an ongoing investigation.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Somerset Live, a local news outlet known for reporting regional news. While not a national publication, it is generally reliable for local events.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about police investigations and descriptions of suspects are plausible and consistent with typical crime reporting. The details provided align with common investigative procedures.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The content appears to be fresh, with recent incidents and ongoing investigations. The source is reliable for local news, and the claims are plausible. The quote seems original, but without further verification, it’s considered likely genuine.
