Police hunting trio after OAP is victim of ‘horrible crime’

Police are continuing their hunt for cruel thieves who stole £200 from an 83-yearold woman as she helped them with directions.

The incident happened outside the Post Office shop on Main Street, St Ninians, at around 2pm on Monday.

Officers are appealing for the help of the public to trace three suspects they believe may be responsible – one a “heavy”man around 5ft 2in tall.

The Observer reported on Wednesday that the victim, who is from Whins of Milton, visited the Post Office and withdrew £200 from an ATM. Police believe someone may have been watching her when she was inside.

As she left she was approached by two males and a female who claimed she was pregnant. They produced a map and asked her for directions.

As she was helping them, it is believed one of the suspects reached into her bag and stole her purse and its contents which included the £200. An additional sum of £100 was then withdrawn from the woman’s bank account.

The victim, unaware she had been robbed, got into her car and drove to the nearby Lidl store on Weaver Row. Once she had collected her items, she went to the till to pay and noticed her purse was missing. At this point the police were called.

Officers say that the woman was aged between 21 and 40, 5ft 3in tall and of slim build. She had collar-length blonde hair. The first male suspect is said to be 5ft 10in tall and of slim build, while the other man was said to be 5ft 2in and of heavy build.

All three spoke with what has been described as“foreign”accents and are not believed to be from the area.

Stirling Inspector Donna Bryans told the Observer:“This is a particularly horrible crime in which a vulnerable elderly lady has been targeted.

“We would just encourage people to be extra careful with their belongings when they are out and about, and ask people working in banks, shops and post offices to look out for anyone acting suspiciously within their premises.”

Inspector Bryans said that a series of safety messages were being put out to Post Office branches urging staff to be vigilant in the wake of this incident.

Anyone who witnessed this theft, or who has any information which could assist officers, should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.