A foster carer had £3,000 intended to assist her ailing grandson snatched from her shopping cart.
Maria Adlington, 59, stated she was ‘devastated’ to find that thieves had made off with her money while she explored the stalls at Hanley Market in Stoke-on-Trent last month.
She had recently withdrawn the funds to purchase a collapsible wheelchair for her grandson for their upcoming holiday abroad.
However, rather than feeling ‘resentful’ towards the thoughtless trio, the grandmother expressed her hope that they at least utilized the money for something genuinely necessary for themselves or their children.
Maria recounted: ‘I withdrew £3,000 from Lloyds Bank and placed the cash at the bottom of my empty shopping trolley.
‘Upon arriving at the market, I bought bananas and carrots, turned around, and my trolley was missing. Two men stood behind me obscuring my view, while another man snatched the trolley and ran away.
‘CCTV footage captured them entering the market after I did, but I’m unsure where they originated from.
‘A shopkeeper at the market’s entrance observed the men handing the vacant trolley over to security. I reported the incident to Lloyds Bank, but they are unable to assist.’
She continued: ‘As a foster carer, I’ve saved tirelessly, even utilizing my Christmas funds. I felt shattered and have struggled to sleep. I really don’t want this to happen to anyone else.
‘I would love to recuperate my money, but it feels truly lost.
‘In my heart, I’m a genuine person. I provide food and clothing to the homeless—that’s just who I am, so bitterness isn’t in my nature. I’m hoping they’ve purchased a stroller for their children, I’m hoping they’ve acquired trainers or a tracksuit because they truly needed it.
‘We’re just an ordinary couple, we don’t present as affluent, and we don’t adorn ourselves in designer apparel or flashy jewelry.’
A representative from Staffordshire Police remarked: ‘We’ve received a report regarding a theft in Upper Market Square, Hanley.
‘A woman withdrew a substantial sum of cash from a bank. The funds were inadvertently left in her shopping cart while she made a purchase.
‘We believe three men took the trolley during the brief moment it was left unattended and seized the cash.’
Inspector Victoria Ison added: ‘We recognize the severe impact that theft can have on victims, and we are dedicated to apprehending those responsible.
‘We understand that victims seek prompt and effective action when thefts occur. We treat every report of theft with utmost seriousness and are committed to conducting thorough inquiries to identify suspects and support the victims involved.’
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For additional stories similar to this, explore our news page.