Heartless thief flees OAP’s house after robbing him
Cops in Paisley are hunting a cruel crook after carers found her rifling through a pensioner’s home.
The yob legged it from the 74-year-old man’s Stock Street home when she was challenged around 7pm on Friday.
It’s understood she befriended the vulnerable OAP in order to get inside and then callously took advantage of his kindness.
She stole a quantity of cash and jewellery before making off.
The victim was unhurt during the incident but has been left badly shaken, say officers.
An investigation is now underway to identify the suspect, with police appealing to members of the public for help.
Inspector Tracy Harkins, from Paisley’s community policing team, said: “We are investigating after a suspect female was discovered within the home address of a vulnerable 74-yearold man in Stock Street, Paisley, on the evening of Friday, May 1.
“It appears a quantity of cash and personal items have been stolen, but enquiries are underway to establish exactly what is missing.
“Thankfully, the victim was unhurt but has been left distressed by what happened.
“The suspect made off from the scene and extensive enquiries are underway to establish her identity at this time.
“We are checking CCTV from the area and speaking to potential witnesses.”
She added: “If you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the Stock Street area of Paisley on the evening of Friday, May 1, then we would like to hear from you.
“I would also urge people to keep an eye out for their older or more vulnerable neighbours, who may be at home alone for extended periods of time during the lockdown.
“If you see anything suspicious or anything that doesn’t seem right, report it immediately.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Paisley vet Neil McIntosh, who has 36 years experience of tending to sick and injured animals, shares his views with you.
Today, we hear about viruses.
The trouble with people and their pets is that you just don’t know where they have been.
In third year at university, now so long ago it feels like a different lifetime, I laboured boy-fully through microbiology.
The pathology classes were bad enough. Parisitology was difficult. But microbiology, which, of course, is the study of all things too small to be seen with the naked eye, was truly monstrous.
I learnt about various bacteria, such as Corynebacterium pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureas and Pseudomonnas aeruginosa. And there were viruses too: Paramyxoviridae, Parvovirus, Adenovirus and Calicivirus. ( Yes, dear reader, I can feel your eyes glazing over, just like mine used to…)
Anyway. I was taught how viruses multiplied and mutated and the methods by which they infected animals. I was told that they are small obligate intracellular parasites, which by definition contain either a RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protective, virus-coded protein coat.
But the thing that has lingered longest in my memory from many hours spent salving over a hot microscope is red paint. Yes. You read that right. Red paint.
It was explained to us, you see, that when you handle a surface that is contaminated by an infectious agent (and I guess some of you may be thinking Covid-19 by now), it is like putting your fingers into wet, red paint.
Everything you touch thereafter is marked by the red paint until such time as it dries or is washed off. It is easy to transfer it to your clothes, your face and even your pet.
Anyone else who happens along and touches the same place that you did also gets red paint on their hands.
And so it goes on. Now, just like viruses, some red paint dries pretty quickly and some doesn’t, and much will depend on the temperature and humidity.
Similarly, some washes off easily while others don’t, so the period during which it will spread can vary.
And my point is? Yesterday, I sat in my car at a petrol station and watched people going in to pay.
A workman was first, grasping the door handle and pushing it open.
Next was a young woman with a child.
She did the same. Then an elderly lady and her dog. She tied the dog’s lead to the newspaper stand, coughed into her hand, patted the dog on the head, then lifted the Perspex cover holding the newspapers down, in exactly the same place as so many others had done before her. She took out a paper, walked to the door and pushed the handle.
The workman came out and pulled the door shut before he scratched his face, talked to the dog, ruffled its head and returned to his vehicle.
Then the mother exited the building, opened her car door and wiped her son’s dribbly chin with a tissue and then threw it out the window.
Lastly the dog owner reappeared, patted its head again, untied its lead and walked past the tissue, which it sniffed. Then they headed for home, no doubt encountering other dog lovers on her way.
All I could see everywhere was red paint.
Thankfully the victim was unhurt but has been left distressed by what happened