Pensioner left to starve after food was stolen from her doorstep
AN elderly woman “imprisoned in her own home” was left to starve, after her food was stolen from her doorstep in Feltham.
Without any family or friends nearby, the woman, Elizabeth, was left to fend for herself, ordering her food online.
The 84-year-old accidentally locked herself in and could not get out.
During this time, a “callous individual” took advantage of the situation, stealing the food from her front doorstep and consequently left her with nothing.
Luckily, PCs Matt Hodges and Pat Peltier, response officers for the Metropolitan Police based in Hounslow, were notified about the Feltham resident, who could not get out and was unable to collect her only supply of food.
The officers swiftly gained access to Elizabeth’s home, to find no food in the fridge whatsoever. Elizabeth had resorted to eating out of the rubbish bin to survive.
PC Hodges and PC Peltier immediately headed to the local shops, buying food, drinks, toiletries and a few other necessities to make Elizabeth feel more comfortable again.
She was overwhelmed with the officers’ generosity and thanked them for their help.
The officers have put the necessary action in place to ensure this “heartbreaking situation” does not happen again.
In a post on social media, the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers come to the aid of a pensioner who was trapped indoors and left to starve
“Response officers PCs Matt Hodges and Pat Peltier were notified of an elderly resident in Feltham who could not open her door and was imprisoned in her own home, unable to collect her only supply of food. Without any family or friends nearby, 84-yearold Elizabeth was left to fend for herself and utilised the facility of ordering her food online.
“Unfortunately, she had managed to lock herself in and whilst confined to her home with no way of leaving, a callous individual took advantage of the situation and stole the food from the pensioner’s front door step, leaving her with nothing.
“On arrival, the officers swiftly gained entry to the property and on seeing that her fridge had literally no food in and hearing that she had resorted to eating out of the rubbish bin to survive, they immediately decamped to the local shops and purchased food, drinks, toiletries and a few other necessities to fill her home and make her feel more comfortable.
“This is a remarkable example of what lengths our officers will go to protect local residents during this very challenging time.
“Well done PC’s Matt Hodges and Pat Peltier.”
The incident comes as many elderly people remain among the most vulnerable in the coronavirus crisis.
Many will struggle to get to the supermarkets, with a fear of contracting Covid-19 if they do.
Huge demand for online shopping slots also make it for difficult for vulnerable people to access essential food and toiletries.
However, most supermarkets are making efforts to reduce the risk for elderly and vulnerable customers. Iceland has limited its new home delivery slots to elderly and vulnerable customers, while priority hours allow elderly, disabled, vulnerable and NHS customers to shop safely in most supermarkets.