Disgust as thieves target dead woman’s home

SHOCK: People sickened as police appeal for help to trace those responsible

Thieves have targeted the home of a woman killed in a Fife road accident.

Linda Dunn’s Methil home was raided just days after her tragic death and a television and an iPad were stolen.

The incident, described by police as horrendous, has left people sickened and disgusted.

Last night community leaders urged anyone shielding those responsible to hand them in immediately.

Ms Dunn, 68, died after being hit by a car as she crossed the road near Riverside Retail Park in Leven on Sunday October 29.

Two people have since appeared in court in connection with her death.

Police have now revealed they are investigating a break-in at her home in Kinnarchie Crescent, which happened some time between Monday and Friday.

Appalled locals said they could not believe the heartless act.

One said: “Stealing from the dead, it doesn’t get any lower than that.”

Another described it as “sickening, absolutely sickening”.

Levenmouth councillors joined the condemnation yesterday, with Methil’s John O’Brien saying: “To think someone could target a family going through a tragedy and make that worse by stealing their most valuable possessions is shocking.

“I’m really disgusted by this. The family must be devastated.”

The SNP councillor added: “Anyone who knows who did this must tell the police immediately.”

Levenmouth police temporary inspector Karen Muirhead said: “This is a horrendous set of circumstances.

“A bereaved family already affected by the death of a loved one are now faced with the house being broken into and personal possessions stolen.

“We are appealing to members of the public with information to assist us in identifying those responsible and hopefully recovering the property stolen.”

This is not the first time thieves have targeted the home of someone who died in tragic circumstances in the Levenmouth area. In March, the smokeblackened flat of 32-year-old Scott Kerr was ransacked just 10 days after he was killed in a fire there.

Anyone who can help police with the investigation into the break-in at Ms Dunn’s home is asked to call officers at Methil on 101 quoting reference PS 20171103-1192. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

On Friday, Gregg Anderson, 26, and Tiegan Carruthers, 19, appeared in private at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on a number of charges relating to Ms Dunn’s death.

Anderson was charged with six offences, including causing death by dangerous driving, while Carruthers appeared on three charges, including failing to give information about the driver’s identity.

Both are also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice. They were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Stealing from the dead, it doesn’t get any lower than that

It is difficult to imagine a crime more despicable than ransacking the home of someone who has died in the most tragic of circumstances.

Yet that is the shocking reality which a Fife family are coming to terms with today.

While relatives of Linda Dunn were mourning her death following a road accident, thieves were devising an evil plot to heap even more misery upon them.

Ms Dunn’s Methil home was targeted at some point last week, just days after her life was cut short, and a television and iPad were stolen.

It is possible the thieves were unaware of the tragedy, despite the fact it was widely reported in this newspaper and elsewhere, and that the subsequent break-in was simply a cruel coincidence.

But in a closeknit community such as Methil, news travels fast, and there is every chance the culprits were well aware of whose home they were violating and targeted it precisely for that reason.

The crime has rightly provoked widespread shock and revulsion and it must be hoped that the same closeknit community spirit prevails and the perpetrators are brought swiftly to justice.

Someone may know who the culprits are. Someone may have been offered the items for sale. If so, they have a duty to come forward and spare a grieving family any more heartache.