Mum tells of masked gang attack ordeal

21 July 2010

A MASKED GANG subjected an East Ham woman to a terrifying attack.

Julie Simpson, 42, was left battered and bruised after five thugs burst into her home and threatened to kill her by putting a knife to her head.

Seconds before, she had allowed two other men posing as Town Hall employees into her property on Hameway as she believed they were part of the Newham Homes maintenance team working in the street.

She told the Recorder: "When they said it was to do with the roof, I presumed they were who they said they were.

"When they came in the house, I knew something was not right."

Five men, whom Ms Simpson described as burly and black, wearing balaclavas and scarves to hide their faces, then burst in.

The thieves escaped with her mobile phone, £440, a laptop and camera.

They also stole jewellery belonging to her 22-year-old daughter Becky, who lives with her.

Ms Simpson and her daughter are now staying at another address in the area.

The robbery happened at around 8.30am on July 9.

The two suspects posing as workmen wore hard hats and yellow high visibility vests.

One was white and the other black.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Robbery Squad on (020) 7275 5448 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Police are warning residents to check all callers identification and only answer the door to people you are expecting.

Full story by Eleanore Robinson in this week's Recorder