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A SPATE of burglaries involving elderly victims could hold the key to finding the killer who beat a Hampshire grandmother to death in her home.

Detectives leading the hunt for the murderer said they are investigating whether a series of distraction burglaries in the area, involving criminals who con their way into the homes of elderly people, are linked to the brutal killing of Georgina Edmonds.

Mrs Edmonds, 77, was found dead at her Brambridge home almost two weeks ago. Officers are now looking into whether burglaries in the area, particularly one in the nearby village of Colden Common on Monday, are linked.

Senior Investigating officer Det Supt David Williams said: "Clearly there is a possible link. The one in Colden Common involved an elderly woman.

"We are profiling every single offence in Hampshire. I have 15 officers dealing with methods of operation. It's something of interest to us."

Det Supt Williams also gave an insight into the scale of the operation which has now expanded to include 30 more officers taking the manpower on the murder hunt to 180.

He said that forensic teams were still at Mrs Edmonds' home where they have been working for 16 hours a day.

As a result some 600 potential clues have been taken for further examination.

Up to 70 specially trained search officers have been trawling the area with 140 witness statements taken so far and about 1,800 vehicles stopped on Kiln Lane alone.

A 37-year-old man remains on police bail after he was arrested with three others who were later released without charge.