Kiril Mihaylov preyed on vulnerable pensioners and even targeted some of them in their own homes
(Image: GMP)
A vile thug followed an elderly 96-year-old woman 15 miles back to her home on a bus from Manchester Piccadilly – then unleashed violence on her in a terrifying robbery.
Kiril Mihaylov preyed on vulnerable pensioners and even targeted some of them in their own homes. In his spree, last August, he followed a 96-year-old woman back from the city centre, punched another 82-year-old to the floor and burgled the home of an 80-year-old man.
The investigation into a series of robberies began after officers received a report that an elderly woman, aged 96-years-old, was violently robbed and her jewellery stolen from her at her home address in Little Hulton.
The victim, who has since passed away, used to regularly travel to the city centre using the busses to walk and have coffees with her friends and family, police said.
On August 1, she met her loved ones before catching the bus from Piccadilly Gardens at around 6pm. Mihaylov had followed her from Piccadilly Gardens back to her home address in Little Hulton.
When the victim entered her home, Mihaylov then forcibly grabbed her necklace before ripping it from her neck. The victim went to one of her neighbours for help and called the police.
Weeks later, on August 26, another 82-year-old victim was in the city centre, who regularly travelled to go shopping and visit her friends at local cafés.
She began to walk home, heading down Trinity Way and took a short cut. Mihaylov followed her and she felt a punch to her stomach, causing her to fall to the floor. He then grabbed jewellery from around her neck and held her ears to take her earrings.
Forensics attended to take swabs from the victim’s ears and neck area, both of these areas were where her jewellery was forcibly taken from her, and DNA samples were sent off for analysis. The DNA came back as a match on the national database and Kiril Mihaylov was declared as a suspect for the two robberies.
CCTV footage was then found, which showed a man whose face was covered, following the victim home as she walked from the city centre. A linked robbery series was identified after officers noticed the similarity of the two robberies
The day after, on August 27, at a property in Salford, a burglary was reported by an 80-year-old man who was out shopping in the city centre during the day. He returned home and later noticed his high-value watch was missing from his bedside table.
He began to search his house for it and went downstairs before he noticed his patio doors had been smashed. The victim reported that a man was stood in his property with a large knife in his hand who fled the area.
Through evidence taken from previous robberies and after conducting a number of CCTV enquiries, Kiril Mihaylov was arrested for two robberies and a burglary. Following a search of Mihaylov’s property, distinctive clothing he wore during the offences that matched CCTV was located, police revealed.
Officers also seized his mobile phone which had pictures of stolen items, a search history of how to sell these items and details of sending a stolen Omega watch to Bulgaria. The Omega watch belonging to one of the victims was found to be in transit to Mihaylov’s family in Bulgaria.
Officers liaised with law enforcement agencies and coordinated to have the watch seized and returned to the UK.
Mihaylov, 30, of Hamilton Road in Levenshulme, was sentenced on March 3 to eight years behind bars at Manchester Crown Court for two robbery offences and a residential burglary offence.
Detective Inspector Michael Sharples of Salford’s Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “Mihaylov’s actions were cowardly, he would systematically prey on elderly people who he saw going about their daily lives in the city centre and would follow them home thinking they would be an easy target.
“As a team, we cannot thank the victims enough, for coming forward and supporting our investigation. Their involvement has helped us secure enough evidence to convict Mihaylov, and ensure he cannot harm anyone else.
“These incidents were particularly shocking as he targeted elderly people. When speaking with the victims, we could sense just how much they valued their independence, and their days out to the city centre. Mihaylov’s actions have left them shaken and questioning their safety.
“I hope that by knowing he is now behind bars, this will provide them with a small measure of comfort, and that they will continue to confidently go about their daily lives, doing what they enjoy the most.”