THIS is the man caught breaking into a frail pensioner's home and stealing a memento from her late husband as she lay sleeping in the front room.
The gold Parker pen was among two handbags, a pair of glasses and cash taken from the 79-year-old's cottage in High Street, Ongar on Wednesday last week (December 3).
"He is a scumbag that needs to be caught, that's for sure," said the victim's son.
Police are searching for the man breaking in through the backdoor of the cottage at about 5.15pm.
The possessions stolen have been valued at a three-figure sum, but the sentimental value of the pen far outweighs anything else that was seized.
"Everything else can be replaced but that can't be," said the woman's son, who did not want to be named.
"There were a lot of things in her purse that were taken like pictures of her grandchildren, things that are sentimental, but she has still got her grandchildren and can get copies of the pictures again.
"But my father had given her the pen over 40 years ago, that's what she wants back more than anything. Dad is not going to give her another pen as he has passed away now – that made her really angry."
The son has demanded that the thief be caught sooner rather than later. "We've got to catch him because we don't want him doing it again," he added.
The same man can be seen on the property's CCTV at a similar time the week before, "strolling up the drive like he owned the place".
"This person must have seen her through the side window. We have him on CCTV outside looking in the property – peering through the kitchen window. As soon as he had seen the two handbags he was determined to get in."
It was not until the next day that the woman, who had fallen asleep after having lunch with a friend, realised she had been burgled when she tried to find her handbag.
He added: "She noticed that the door was open and she thought she must have left it ajar.
"Mother was angry more than anything, she was fuming – she just wishes she could have got hold of him.
"It's frightening knowing the attitude of the person seeing my mother in the house, knowing she was there and still being determined to get in – he is a grubby little thief and chancer.
"He is the scum of the earth, a cowardly little maggot that isn't worth talking about really.
"If you do recognise him, please do get in touch and help to stop him because next time someone might not be asleep, they might catch him and he could do something to them."
Anyone who can identify the man should contact detectives at Loughton CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
