Pensioner ‘went into panic’ after theft of £3k outside bank
MONEY STOLEN AFTER WITHDRAWL AT BRANCH
A PENSIONER had £3,000 stolen after withdrawing it from a Barclay’s bank in Southall.
Retired Heathrow Airport worker Liaqat Ali Khan, 69, from Ruislip, made a two-hour bus journey to collect three months’ worth of pension in cash from his bank on The Broadway, but it was swiped after he put it in his trolley at around 11.20am on March 29.
It comes a year after his wife Ms Begum, 65, suffered a stroke which left her immobile and unable to continue working as a school caterer.
The theft will also make it impossible to repair the couple’s “ancient heating system” – the cost was quoted to them at £5,000 – and means they have less to give their grandchildren to celebrate Ramadan.
They are also struggling to pay for food and bills.
Mr Khan said: “I am still in shock and I am having difficulties sleeping since the incident. I am worried the same people will target me again if I go out in Southall.”
Ms Begum said: “I am worried about my husband and the impact this is having on him – it appears crime in London is getting worse day by day. Elderly people don’t feel safe living in London any more. As the cost of living goes up, things will only get worse.”
Mohammad Razwan spoke to his dad shortly after the incident and said “he went into panic and did not know what to do”.
He continued: “He felt like he was about to have a heart attack. He was shouting in the branch ‘that’s my money.’ When he came home he was all pale. At the moment we are worried he is not himself.”
As well as worrying about his dad, Mr Razwan said his family would have to fork out for the loss.
“We can’t really afford that much at the moment,” he added.
Now Mr Razwan plans to take his dad to the bank one month at a time, rather than risking another big theft.
He said his dad was “just frustrated” and “keeps talking about it”.
He tried telling his dad “it’s only money, it comes and goes”.
In a statement, the Met Police said: “Police are investigating after cash was stolen from a bank customer. The incident happened at about 11am on Tuesday March 29. A man in his late 60s had withdrawn money from a bank in The Broadway, Southall, and then placed it in a trolley. A short while later the money was discovered stolen. There have been no arrests. Inquiries continue.”