Pensioner terrified
Margaret, 88, speaks out after bag snatched
An 88-year-old Rutherglen great gran has been prescribed tablets for insomnia and anxiety after a callous thief left her so shaken she is unable to sleep.
Margaret MacFarlane was shopping in Rutherglen when her bag was stolen on Sunday, December 23.
The cruel opportunist pounced on her on the corner of Stonelaw Road and Greenhill Road at around 4.45pm, grabbing her bag and making off towards the Rutherglen Exchange shopping centre.
Police have clear CCTV footage of the callous crook, fleeing with Margaret’s handbag, which contained a three-figure sum of cash.
The pensioner’s daughter-in-law, Lorraine MacFarlane, says Margaret - who is of slight build and is under 5ft tall - is putting on a brave face.
But she is now sleeping with the lights on, has lost confidence, and becomes anxious when darkness falls.
On Thursday, Margaret visited her GP, who prescribed sleeping tablets and medication for anxiety.
The doctor told her concerned family that a delayed reaction to trauma is common particularly among the elderly.
“She will try to say: ‘I am fine,’ but deep down, she has had a bit of a shock, “explained Lorraine, who describes her mum-in-law as “jumpy”.
“The good thing was, she was not physically hurt. She has osteoporosis and a heart condition. It is just by sheer luck that she was not thrown. Had she fallen, there could have been broken bones. She will say she is alright, but she clearly isn’t.”
Lorraine’s husband, David, says his mum opened up to her GP and admitted how deeply she has been affected by her ordeal.
Rutherglen residents reacted with disgust when it was revealed that Margaret had been targeted by the heartless, opportunistic theft.
Minutes after the incident, Lorraine posted on social media to warn other pensioners to be on the alert.
The post sparked more than 200 angry comments, with many offering to donate money to replace that stolen from Margaret, who has nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Supporters and well-wishers donated £240 through a gofundme page, while offers of assistance came flooding in, from cash, to a new purse, chocolates, a hamper and even a personal alarm.
On seeing the flurry of comments and good wishes, Lorraine’s niece, Kirsty Steele wrote: “I would just like to say what a beautiful thing you are doing. It’s truly humbled me.”
Lorraine says she, Margaret and the rest of the family have been “overwhelmed and humbled” by the community’s expressions of kindness and concern.
“She is a wee lady, an old-fashioned granny, who is not even 5ft. She is just a wee soul,” said Lorraine.
“She is astounded by people’s kindness. She just keeps saying: ‘People must like me.’”
Police are hunting a man aged between 30 and 40, 5ft 5ins tall, of slim build with short, grey hair.
He was wearing a short, dark jacket, jeans and trainers at the time of the attack.
Renewing an appeal for witnesses, Inspector Robert Bryce of Rutherglen Police Office urged motorists with dash-cams who were in the area at that time to check their footage.
The bag snatch is one of a number of reports of similar recent incidents, in which elderly women were the target.
Police have arrested a man in connection with the alleged theft of a bag in the car park of Morrisons in Kirk Road, Wishaw, on January 2, in which a 74-year-old woman was allegedly knocked to the ground.
And a 61-year-old woman fought off two men who tried to steal her bag in Livingstone on Sunday.
Anyone with information about all three thefts is urged to contact police on telephone number 101. Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers where they can provide information anonymously.