An elderly woman has been attacked in an aggravated burglary in Aston, Rotherham.
South Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses following the violent incident on All Saints Way on Sunday, 21st April at 12:50AM.
Two men ‘wearing balaclavas and wielding a hatchet’ gained entry to an undisclosed address on the street in the early hours of the morning and reportedly ‘demanded drugs’ from an elderly woman before fleeing the scene.
Hope Tudor, 22, from the neighbouring Worksop Road, Aston, described the burglary as ‘such a shock’.
Miss Tudor said: “I’ve always considered Aston a safe area. I’ve lived and worked here for years and never experienced any issues so hearing this is definitely scary.”
The crime occurred less than 200 yards away from Aston Hall Junior & Infant School, which serves children and families in the affected area.
A statement issued via Police UK on 24th April 2024 now lists ‘Reduction in dwelling, business and garage burglaries’ as a policing priority for the local policing team at Maltby Police Station.
Maltby Police Station said: “We regularly utilise data to map hotspots and patrol those to maximise deterrence. A new area is now identified and we are working with detectives to formulate an operation to make that area safer.”
Burglaries remain common in Sheffield and Rotherham in spite of the week-long Operation Calibre crackdown on neighbourhood crime in November 2023, intended to ‘reduce personal robbery’ nationwide.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Personal Robbery, Commander Richard Smith, said: “Personal robbery has a devastating impact on victims, leaving them with trauma which can be lasting. We continue to see this impact and it is why tackling personal robbery remains a national policing priority.”
Despite these aims, the latest figures show 51 burglaries reported in the Rotherham South area, which covers Aston, in February 2024 alone. Over 700 crimes were reported in the area during this time, with highest figures of those classed as violence and sexual offences; anti-social behaviour; and criminal damage and arson.
Enquiries are ongoing, and officers are appealing for anyone with CCTV footage or information about the incident to contact the police online or by calling 101.
