Pub clubs together to get Susan’s £70 back
PENSIONER HAD HER PURSE STOLEN WHILE IN CARD SHOP
WELL-WISHERS in Swadlincote have clubbed together to reimburse the £70 cash that was stolen from a deaf OAP by pickpockets in a High Street card shop.
Susan Elton, 79, had turned to talk to a friend when a thief unzipped the handbag which she had wrapped around her walking frame and took the purse without her noticing.
She only realised her purse was missing after the theft on Friday, October 19, when she got up to the tills.
Concerned staff at Card Factory helped the traumatised mother by phoning the police and taking her straight to the bank to cancel her cards.
Unfortunately, the purse had also contained £70 in cash.
And although bank staff had promptly cancelled the cards, later records showed the thieves had spent £60 at McDonald’s and more than £40 at
Lidl in separate contactless payments before the cancellation process had gone through.
But now kind-hearted locals have come together to reimburse Mrs Elton via a collection pot at the Foresters Arms pub in High Street, just a few doors down from the shop where her purse was stolen.
Mrs Elton, who only moved to the Oaklands Village extra care facility in Swadlincote five years ago after more than 70 years in Tutbury, said: “It’s such a lovely thought.
“It’s restored my faith in the people around here – it’s so kind of them.”
Mrs Elton had moved to Swadlincote with her husband David in their 50th anniversary year but he passed away on the same week they moved.
Her daughter Caroline Preston said her mum had only been out three times on her own after her husband’s death because of a lack of confidence before the theft made it even worse.
“It was never about the money, it’s what it’s done to my mum,” she said.
“But we’re really thankful, the amount of well-wishers we had was unbelievable.
“On the day it happened I was reading them (Facebook messages) out to my mum and she had tears in her
eyes.” Donations at the Foresters Arms reached £60, while an extra £15 donation made via Paypal to Mrs Preston took Mrs Elton’s reimbursed total up to £75.
Mrs Preston added: “It gives me peace of mind that people are looking after my mum.”
Shane Dent, who works at the Foresters Arms and organised the fund-raising at the pub, said: “I think it’s disgusting what happened to her.
“But this shows that the majority of people aren’t all bad.” A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl was found wandering alone round a busy industrial estate.
A member of the public is thought to have found the young child – close to Rebound trampoline park in Ashby – and called police shortly after noon yesterday.
Officers from Leicestershire Police visited Norman Court on the Ivanhoe Business Park to check on the little girl and speak to people in the area. They said that, while carrying out enquiries, a member of the girl’s family called police to report her missing.
It is thought the little girl had wandered out of her nearby house and was walking around the area when she was found.
It has now been confirmed the girl has been safely reunited with her family, which happened around an hour after the girl was found.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: “Shortly after 12.05 today police were called to Norman Court, Ashby. A young girl was found nearby.
“Officers attended the scene and while they were carrying out enquiries, a member of the girl’s family called police to report her missing from a house in the area.
“She has now been reunited with her family.”
It’s such a lovely thought. It’s restored my faith in people around here, it’s so kind of them.