SIR: May I convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to Victim Support, especially Mrs Jean Speight , who helped me when some callous thief stole my purse off my kitchen table, while I was on the phone or pottering in my garden. My back gate was locked as always but they managed to get in. The £60 in my purse was all I had, my pensioner's bus pass gone, my father's remembrances gone, plus other items gone. It's just mindless and heartless.

But for the boy who found various contents from my purse scattered on a field near St Stephens School and told his mum, who rang me, I would never have known where my purse had gone. To think someone came into my house while I was in is devastating. I thank Victim Support, I thank the boy and his mum, I thank the police and special thanks to my children, they are the best!

To the thieves or thief I say, I hope this never happens to your grandma. She may drop dead. I nearly did, you mindless thieving yobs, are you pleased you've made me a nervous wreck?

Mrs V Rochford, Kearsley

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.