Croydon pensioner dies after coming home to find he had been burgled

 
Death: Beckford Road in Croydon Picture: Google
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A pensioner has collapsed and died moments after returning home to find his home burgled in south London.

The 67-year-old man managed to dial 999 to report the break-in but had collapsed by the time officers arrived at the house in Croydon.

Neighbours said the dead man - named locally as Stanley Amarasinghe - had undergone a triple heart bypass operation within the last two years.

Scotland Yard said police were called to reports of a burglary in Beckford Road at 7.10pm last night.

When they arrived they found Mr Amarasinghe had been taken ill and an ambulance called to the scene took him to hospital.

Efforts were made to revive him but he was pronounced dead later in hospital.

Police said no one was in the house when Mr Amarasinghe got home though some local people reported that he had been involved in a confrontation with the intruders.

The burglars are thought to have broken into the house by smashing a rear window.

Neighbours said the father of three had been burgled at least once before.

They described him as “always smiling and saying hello to everyone”.

Neighbour Elaine Lowe, 75, said: “We are all in shock Stan was a lovely man. The paramedics worked on him for ages to save his life. He has had a triple heart bypass and been burgled before. It looks like this sent him over the edge.

“He was a lovely man with a young family who will be greatly missed.”

She said the family had lived at the address for around seven years and there were three sons.

Today forensic teams were combing the property for clues.

Local shopkeeper Shaji Ran, 51, said: “He was a lovely family man and we can hardly believe he has gone. He had been burgled before and had a bad heart.

“He was always smiling and said hello to everyone. We are in total shock.”

The police were trawling CCTV evidence from cameras from the shop.

Police say the burglary took place sometime between 11.30am and 7pm yesterday.

Police are appealing for information and anyone who anything suspicious should call Detective Sergeant Parker on 0203 276 2179 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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