Blood found in missing pensioner's flat (From Times Series)

Blood found in missing Barnet pensioner's Finch Close flat

5:29pm Saturday 5th September 2009 in News By Jack Royston

FEARS are growing for a missing Barnet pensioner after blood was found in his flat.

George Smith, who has angina and high blood pressure, spoke to a relative over the phone on Sunday, August 23, but was nowhere to be seen when, concerned for his safety, they visited him three days later.

The relative found blood in a number places around the flat, in Finch Close and his disappearance is now being investigated by the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate, responsible for tackling some of the most serious cases in the capital.

Police found no evidence of forced entry.

Mr Smith, a regular at the Weavers, Red Lion and Queens Arms pubs, is described as black, 5ft 9inches tall, around 16stone and of chubby build.

He has a moustache and a goatee beard, which is mostly grey, and when last seen had a freshly-shaved head.

He has a small dimple on his nose where it was broken in the past.

He usually wears jeans and a shirt, smokes roll-up cigarettes and wears glasses for reading.

He is known to visit the Greenhill Parade area as well as the Graham Park Estate, in Colindale.

Detective Inspector Glen Lloyd said: “We really need to hear from anyone who may have seen George since he made the call to his relative on Sunday 23 August.”

A description of the Specialist Crime Directorate on the Met's website reads: “The Specialist Crime Directorate’s (SCD) 5,500 staff are involved in the capital’s most high profile and serious cases.

“SCD has refocused its work on the corporate objective for 2006/07 of disrupting criminal networks, seizing their assets and reducing the harm they cause.

“This new approach aims to understand and tackle criminal networks at all levels, from street gangs in neighbourhoods to sophisticated groups also operating nationally and internationally, in order to reduce the harm and fear they cause in communities.”

Anyone with information can contact officers on 0208 358 0400 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.