Public rallies round OAP after heartless thief makes off with handbag containing £1,000

HUNDREDS of pounds have been raised after an 83-year-old woman was robbed of £1,000 she had saved to buy Christmas presents for her family.

Pensioner Dolly Dickson from Mayo Street in Belfast was at the back of her home bringing in her bin when the robber sneaked in and stole her bag with her pension and savings in it.

News of the burglary broke when the PSNI posted a message about the theft on its Facebook page.

The investigating officer wrote: “This morning I have attended the scene of a domestic burglary which happened yesterday afternoon in the Mayo Street area.

“Someone has sneaked into the house and stolen around £1,000 cash. What makes this particularly repulsive is that the victim of this is an 83-year-old lady who lives alone. Get that, an 83 years old lady! Who in all good conscience can do this?”

Dolly’s son Bill expressed fury at what happened.

“Just a wee warning to people and pensioners, especially in the Upper Shankill and Woodvale area,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

“Yesterday some scummy wee b ***** d walked into my mother’s house and stole her bag with her pension and money she had saved for Xmas presents. Luckily for her she was out her back bringing in her bin other wise it could have been much worse.”

Almost immediately, offers of help for Dolly flooded in from big-hearted Belfast folk, among them businessman Steve Cummings, who said he would personally donate £1,000 to make good her loss, and Peaky Blinders actor Packy Lee, who also stepped forward with an offer of help.

A charity page set up to help her had already received £690 in pledges toward its £1,000 target by last night.

The site can be seen at https:// goo.gl/UUETcp