Irreplaceable brooch stolen

An 89 year old blind woman's had an irreplaceable brooch stolen by thieves who robbed her while she was out shopping in the Thames Valley.

At about 12.50pm on Tuesday, the pensioner was shopping with her elderly friend in the Co-op in The Square, Botley, when her navy blue handbag was stolen from the back of her trolley.

Inside the bag were bank and identity documents, £200 cash, and a gold-coloured brooch in the shape of two intertwined hearts with ivy leaf detailing. The brooch has the inscription ‘The Lord stayeth between me and thee, while we are absent one from another.'

PC Richard Watts, investigating the incident, said:

“The brooch in the handbag was given to the victim by her deceased husband 70 years ago and is irreplaceable to her as it has great sentimental value. This is a despicable crime, where an elderly and disabled woman has been targeted by thieves and has been left very distressed by the loss of her bag and her brooch.

“We have released pictures of two people we would like to speak to in connection with the theft, seen entering the store.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed the theft or recognises the description of the women in the images to contact me.”

Anyone with any information should contact PC Watts via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.