Burglar proposed with wedding ring stolen from 91-year-old

A man in Great Britain robbed a 91-year old woman of her jewelry and then used her stolen wedding ring for a marriage proposal. Steven Reid, 38, was arrested and was sentenced this week for the theft.

In a news release, the West Midlands Police said Saturday that Reid and an accomplice broke into the woman's home on Dec. 19, 2016. After stealing a gold wedding ring, Reed used it to propose to a woman on Christmas Eve. His proposal backfired when the woman saw a police appeal to help trace the stolen jewelry and contacted authorities.

Reid’s accomplice, Jerome Jones, was caught on camera the day after the burglary attempting to sell the stolen jewelry, which included a signet ring, watch and bracelet that belonged to the 91-year-old’s late husband.

Reid received a four-year, nine-month sentence at Birmingham Crown Court for burglary, according to the news release. Jones was sentenced to four years, three months in jail.

“The victim was unhurt but this was clearly a shocking ordeal for her,” West Midlands Police Detective Sgt. Tom Lyons said in the release. “She was awoken by a security light being activated and footsteps on the stairs … and moments later they burst into her bedroom.

“She was told to stay in bed while they ransacked her home. The lady was clearly elderly and vulnerable -- and for Reid and Jones to prey on her vulnerability is despicable.”

Since the woman receiving the marriage proposal and ring contacted police, it is doubtful that she accepted Reid’s overtures.