**Pensioner Outsmarts Burglar with Clever Trap at Supported Living Home**
A resourceful pensioner has played a crucial role in apprehending a burglar who repeatedly targeted her flat at a supported living complex in Peterborough. The elderly woman, who suspects her property was not safe while she was away, turned detective by enlisting the help of a friend to lay a well‑devised trap that ultimately exposed the culprit.
The trouble began when the pensioner, in her late 60s, noticed suspicious disappearances of cash from her purse on two consecutive weeks. Coinciding with her regular commitment to host weekly bingo evenings in the communal lounge of the facility in Eaglesthorpe, Millfield, the disappearances aroused immediate suspicion. Upon returning after each session, she found her purse had been moved from beneath her coffee table and a notable sum of money had vanished.
Distraught by these incidents, the victim confided in a fellow resident. The pair concocted a detailed plan. The following Thursday, as the pensioner headed off to run bingo as usual, her friend secreted herself inside the flat, waiting to see if the thief would strike again. This ingenuity would soon prove effective.
Shortly after 7pm, the hidden friend heard someone enter and begin searching through possessions in the living room. Reacting swiftly, she started recording the unfolding events on her mobile phone. She confronted the intruder, Modesta Kelpsaite—employed as a cleaner at the supported living facility—who was found handling the owner’s cash.
Kelpsaite, aged 36 and residing in Century Square, Millfield, was arrested at her home on 16 April last year. She was brought in for questioning by Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Her explanation, as reported in court, was that she happened upon a set of keys while cleaning a communal stairwell, following which she tried to return them and inadvertently entered the flat. She claimed to have been searching for the resident to return the keys when confronted by the friend who had been hiding inside.
Following further investigation, Kelpsaite was charged with burglary and theft—admitting in court to having stolen a total of £500 in cash. The case proceeded to Peterborough Crown Court, where she faced sentencing last week.
In a judgment reflecting the seriousness of the crime, the court imposed a ten‑month prison sentence, suspended for two years. In addition, Kelpsaite was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity. Significantly, the judge issued a five‑year criminal behaviour order (CBO), prohibiting Kelpsaite from seeking employment in any care home or supported living environment.
Detective Constable Pete Wise, who led the investigation, remarked on the breach of trust involved. “Burglary is an incredibly intrusive crime,” DC Wise said. “Kelpsaite was in a position of trust, permitted into residents’ homes to clean while they were present. She had no right entering on her own. Now, with a CBO in place, any violation may see her facing a custodial sentence.”
According to experts, cases like this can severely undermine confidence in sheltered community living and raise questions around the vetting and monitoring of staff entrusted with access to vulnerable people’s homes. Vigilance among residents and prompt action, as demonstrated by the victim and her friend, can be integral to preventing such offences.
The case shines a light on both the resourcefulness in community settings and the challenges in maintaining security for older or vulnerable adults. Police continue to work closely with supported living facilities to provide crime prevention advice and ensure robust safeguarding practices are in place for all residents.