A brave 90-year-old woman chased an evil conman after he snatched her purse and £200.
The man claimed to be selling clothes when he turned up at her flat soon after the OAP collected her pension.
But he forced his way into her Maryhill home before grabbing her purse which contained cash, a bank card and a bus pass and ran off.
The 5ft 2in woman, who is too frightened to be named, then chased the robber down the stairs during the incident.
She said: “Instinct just took over, and I went after him. I have no idea what I would have done if I had caught up with him, but I was just so desperate to get my purse back.
“It’s not just the money. It’s the sentimental value of the purse. I had lots of little memories in it that can never be replaced.”
The pensioner says the incident has “ruined her life”.
Speaking through tears, she said: “I will never be the same again.
“I cannot even tell you what day it is. Everything has been a blur since this happened. I’ve spent all my time sitting here alone and crying. I want to die. This is no life – being scared at home and scared to go out.”
Police believe the same thief may also have struck at other homes last week.
At around 12.30pm last Tuesday, a 75-year-old man was robbed in his sheltered home, in Karol Path, near St George’s Road, and the following morning, a 78-year-old woman was sold clothing at three times its value at her Maryhill Road home.
On Thursday, a man forced his way into a 67-year-old woman’s home in Kirkland Street, but fled with nothing.
In each incident, the suspect was described as of Asian appearance, between 35 and 45, about 5ft 6in and slim.
Appealing for information, detective constable Steven Crosbie of Strathclyde Police said: “These are despicable crimes.
“Vulnerable people can take steps to protect themselves from bogus callers, including never letting people persuade you to let them enter your home.”
POLICE WARNING
Police in North Lanarkshire have warned the public to be aware of a cold-calling security scam.
There has been a number of incidents in recent weeks in and around Bellshill during which vulnerable people have been targeted at home by callers pretending to be from the local police.
They offer a free alarm system and make arrangements for a security company to call back. When it does, the occupier is asked sign up to an exorbitant security deal.
Officers urge anyone who has fallen victim to this type of con to contact them or the Trading Standards Office. Constable Alan Mullholland of Bellshill Police said: “The police will never cold call anyone and if officers identify someone in need of security advice, they would attend in person.
“We are always happy to advise on security matters and would ask anyone who receives such a call to contact the police who can make arrangements to investigate the matter.”
