The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
THE STOLEN HANDBAG FOUND AFTER 7 YEARS.. AND IT STILL HAD £ 250 IN IT
A delighted mother has been miraculously reunited with her handbag containing £ 250 - seven years after it was stolen.
Mum- of - t hree Parveen Ashraf, of Cresta Drive, Werrington, had long since given up hope offinding her cream and black Fiorelli handbag after it was stolen by opportunistic thieves in 2006.
But when workmen from Peterborough service provider firm Enterprise were clearing a bush bed in nearby Church Street last month they stumbled across it.
The handbag contained personal belongings providing them with a clue to the owner and their address – and incredibly, £ 250 in damp £ 20 notes.
One of the crew members, Ian Lilley, walked to Mrs Ashraf’s address which was found on documents inside the bag. As she was not in, the bag was left with a neighbour to pass on.
Mrs Ashraf, a 47- year- old chef, said: “I am amazed to have got my handbag back it really is a miracle.
“When I saw the money was still inside I was stunned, the notes were damp and covered in grit but I was able to get them changed at the bank and treated my kids to a meal at a restaurant.”
Mrs Ashraf ’ s handbag was stolen after thieves entered her kitchen while she was unloading shopping from her car.
Inside the bag was her purse containing £ 20incash and her credit cards, but the £ 250 was tucked inside a plastic wallet.
Mrs Ashraf added: “They took my purse but missed the £ 250 and then dumped it in a bush.
“I remember I had quite unusually a lot of cash in it, as it was just before my husband’s 50th birthday.
“What’s really special, not only it came back intact with all the money and documents but also with a little prayer that I used to carry around on a card - I think someone up there was watching over the handbag,
“I would like to thank Ian Lilley and his team , it’s good to know there are still honest people in the world.
The crew have been commended by their managers for honesty and going ‘ the extra mile’.
Richard Oldfield, Enterprise Peterborough general manager, said: “The crew members: Ian Lilley, Arthur Fisher, Joe Brudenell and Michael Carter have been awarded with shopping vouchers for the irrighteousness.
“When things are mis laid, lost or even stolen, it’s great to be able to help the community when we are out and about, making Peterborough look fine.”
Mr Oldfield added that the most commonly found items are handbags, purses and bank cards.
If the owner is identified and resides within reasonable distance crews deliver to them, otherwise found items are handed in to the police.