HEARTLESS thieves targeted the gas meters of elderly residents during a night-time raid in Grimsby.
Three meters were stolen and another three were tampered with by the two men, who fled after being spotted.
The thefts took place between 10pm and 11pm, on Sunday, in Bemrose Way, off Lord Street, and police are appealing for witnesses.
The flats affected are owned by housing association Shoreline and are occupied predominantly by elderly residents.
The three stolen gas meters were due to be replaced by the residents' respective utility companies yesterday.
Leeson Pearce, 80, said: "A neighbour came across and rang our door bell at about 11pm. She said 'your gas meter's gone.' It's not the best time of year for it to happen."
Mr Pearce added that the thieves had also targeted the gas meter of his 90-year-old neighbour.
"They had slackened the nuts off it but they didn't take the meter. They must have had a key to open all the boxes.
"The copper wiring has been stolen from the boxes before. I don't know if it's the same people. They've never taken the meters before."
Nellie Swanson, 76, said: "I came into the kitchen at about midnight to take a tablet because I couldn't sleep. I looked out of the window and saw my neighbours and they said: 'Come down, your meter's gone.' Someone from the National Grid was there and he told me to ring my supplier.
"I rely on gas for my heating. That's all I've got. It's mainly old people that live around here. We've had no heating whatsoever.
"I've lived here 22 years and I've never known anything like this before. I think it's terrible. It could have blown up. It's frightening. I was up all night. It's upsetting."
Hazel Stiff, 77, said: "Nellie called me this morning. She said: 'Have you see your gas meter?" I said: 'No'. She said: 'It's gone.'
"The people who've done this are lower than a snake's belly. They are the scum of the earth. If it wasn't for the lady across the road, I don't know how many more they would have taken.
"It used to be lovely around here, but it's suddenly gone down. We have had fencing put around the bedroom windows because we had people banging on the windows at 2am and 3am in the morning.
"I put two CCTV cameras up but they were vandalised."
The neighbour from across the road, said she saw the two thieves trying to steal gas meters from outside the flats.
"I got my jacket and came outside and I said: 'I've seen the pair of you.' Then they ran off down Haycroft Avenue. I just can't believe this has happened. It is absolutely disgusting."
A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called in connection with the theft of a gas meter from an address in Bemrose Way.
"Police have been made aware of other incidents involving the theft of gas meters and would ask anyone with information to call Humberside Police on 101 quoting crime reference 1949944."
