Grandma's appeal to purse thief to return precious family photos

A PENSIONER has appealed for the return of her purse containing precious family photos after it was stolen at Christchurch Waitrose.

Rosemary Hutchings-Webber (70) discovered it was missing when she went to pay for her groceries at the end of her weekly shop last Monday.

She said: “I burst into tears. I couldn’t believe it was gone. The worst thing is losing the photos.

“There was £40 cash in it, but it is the photos I was really upset about. There was one of great sentimental value of my late mum and photos of my grandson, who is now 14, when he was a toddler.

“Losing those have upset me more than anything. I am just hoping that the thief threw the purse away with them still in it and someone finds it.”

The theft of a Mrs Hutchings-Webber’s purse, which she describes as “multi-coloured”, is part of what Dorset Police have described as a “spate” of similar crimes in the Christchurch area.

They have warned shoppers to be vigilant revealing that another lady in her 70s had her purse stolen recently at Marks & Spencer in High Street.

Mrs Hutchings-Webber, who used to work in several shops in the town before retiring, said she had withdrawn cash at an ATM outside the Waitrose, in Fountain Way, at around 10.55am.

She then went into the store where she put her purse into her handbag which was in a shopping trolley.

Mrs Hutchings-Webber added: “The only time I didn’t have the handbag in my sights was when I was in the fruit-and-veg department about five minutes after I had entered the store.

“When I was waiting in the queue at the till, I realised my handbag was open. I looked and saw the purse was gone.”

She said staff at the store had reacted “absolutely marvellously” to the theft, saying: “They immediately took me to the café, sat me down and got me a coffee. The security guard came and stayed with me the whole time I was in there.

“The manager also came to see if I was alright several times. They said they were checking the CCTV.

“They had also asked Sainsbury’s at Somerford to check their CCTV as about six-seven minutes after my purse went my bank alerted me that someone had tried to use my card to get money out.”

The store then presented Mrs Hutchings-Webber with her shopping, refusing to accept any payment for it.

She said: “They didn’t have to do that, I thought it was a lovely gesture.”

Police community support investigator Kate Hann, of Dorset Police, said: “Both victims have been visited by officers and given advice and support. I would urge anyone with information about these thefts to please contact police.

“I would also urge shoppers in the area to remain vigilant to avoid becoming victims of this type of offence.

“Make sure your bag is kept close and secured at all times and there are also items such as purse bells that can make it harder for thieves to steal items from your bag. .

“Finally, I would like to appeal directly to the person who stole the purse to have a heart and hand it in with the photos as they are of great sentimental value to the victim.”

Those with information should contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 reference number 5200032850. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For more crime prevention advice visit www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/.