Police appeal after 88-year-old robbed

HEARTLESS thieves targeted an 88-year-old woman and stole her purse containing £200 after tricking her in a Nuneaton shop.

It is understood that the duo distracted the elderly woman in a card shop in the Abbeygate Shopping Centre so that they could take her purse.

Police are now investigating the theft, which has caused outrage on social media forums.

It follows a post being made on a group on Facebook, which read: “Sad news in Nuneaton again. An old lady aged 88 went to the post office to draw £200 pound out. She then walked across to the card shop in the arcade.

“A man and a woman were pointing up high at something. Basically distracted her and took her purse with her cards and £200. Poor Lady had to be escorted to the police station as she was in so much shock.”

The theft comes just weeks after another elderly woman was targeted by cruel ‘purse dippers’ who stole her Christmas present money. This prompted a groundswell of support for an appeal to replace the money, with a whopping £800 being donated.

Investigations are ongoing into the most recent theft and police want to hear from anyone who was in the area near to Card Factory at around 1.30pm on Friday, December 29.

A spokesperson for Wawickshire Police Force explained: “At approximately 2pm on Friday 29 December, Warwickshire Police received a report of an alleged theft in Abbeygate in Nuneaton.

“It is reported that the incident happened around 1.27pm near the card factory shop.

“The victim, a woman in her 80s has had her purse removed from her bag, and a large amount of money stolen.

“Enquires are still ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspicious within the area around the stated time, to please contact Warwickshire Police.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting 174 of December 29 or the Crimestoppers hotline, which is free to call from a landline and confidential, on 0800 555 111.