Pensioner robberies linked

Mrs Gilkeson was alone in her home in Grange Park

Two pensioners' homes have been robbed in Counties Tyrone and Armagh.

The same gang has been blamed for both robberies.

Police described one of the attacks on 78-year-old Maudie Gilkeson as atrocious.

She was left severely shocked and bruised after a robbery at her home in Ballygawley, County Tyrone.

Mrs Gilkeson was alone in her home in Grange Park when three masked men forced their way in at about 1915 GMT on Friday.

The men said they wanted money for drugs.

The men then searched the woman's bedroom and made off in a car with a sum of cash.

One of the men is thought to have a cut on his hand. Mrs Gilkeson was severely shocked and suffered bruising to her arm and shoulder.

They ransacked downstairs and upstairs and we believe that during that search they may have taken around £150 Sergeant Graham Dodds

Sergeant Graham Dodds condemned the incident and described the gang as "scum".

He said it was an atrocious attack and said Ballygawley police would be directing extra resources to the area to protect elderly residents.

"They pulled her out of her chair and dragged her across the living room," he said.

"They threw her very roughly to the settee. They again made threats and held her down while two other accomplices made a very rough search of the house.

"They ransacked downstairs and upstairs and we believe that during that search they may have taken around £150."

Upstairs bedroom

An hour later in County Armagh, a couple in their 80s were robbed at their home in Keady.

James and Martha Armstrong were having dinner in their kitchen when the door was kicked in.

The couple were having dinner when the door was kicked in

Up to five masked men burst in and threatened them with a screwdriver, before ransacking the house.

The gang said they wanted money for drugs

The robbers took £10 from an upstairs bedroom and took a handbag containing £7.

One of the robbers had an pink item wrapped around his hand.

Police believe the same gang was involved in both robberies as a pink sock was taken from the house in Ballygawley.

Two of the Armstrong's sons live on either side of their bungalow.

They are mystified as to how the robbers knew which house to target.