Shameless thief swipes £120 cash from disabled grandmother’s handbag

Shocking moment a shameless thief dips into the purse of grandmother, 70, and steals £120 when she looks away as family say ‘Nan hasn’t left the house since’

  • Grandmother Linda Williams withdrew money from bank in Hackney, London
  • Was followed by female perpetrator who pounced when OAP bent down in shop  
  • Granddaughter Jessie, 22, said her ‘Nan won’t go anywhere after it happened’
  • Do you recognise the thief? Please contact [email protected] 

A shameless thief has been caught on CCTV swiping cash out of a disabled elderly woman’s purse while her back was turned. 

Linda Williams, 70, withdrew £120 from a bank machine in Hackney, London, on Monday and was followed to a nearby pound shop by a female perpetrator.

The young woman waited for Ms Williams to bend down to browse items on a shelf before dipping inside her handbag – which was perched on the OAP’s walking frame.

The female thief dips her hand in Linda Williams’ purse as the 70-year-old bends down to browse items on a shelf in Hackney

The crook used a magazine to conceal her movements as she put her hand inside Ms Williams’ bag and grabbed the money.

Ms Williams lookED up at the woman, who deftly withdrew her hand and pretended to examine items on display.

When the pensioner resumed browsing the shelves, she pounced again.  


The perpetrator followed the vulnerable woman into the pound shop and waited for an opportunity to pounce before swiping £120 in cash

Ms Williams looks up at the young woman, who then pretends to be browsing some plates

The footage has been released by the pensioner’s outraged family who want to track down the thief.

Granddaughter Jessie Williams said she was ‘disgusted’ by what had happened to her grandmother and revealed the elderly woman is too scared to leave her home.


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The 22-year-old said: ‘She won’t go anywhere after it happened and I won’t be surprised if she starts writing out a list and gets us to do her shopping for her.

‘I went to see her after it happened, she was white as a ghost. You just don’t expect a woman to do that to another lady.’

The ‘disgusted’ family said the grandmother didn’t feel safe shopping alone while the female crook, pictured, is still at large

Jessie, who believes at least one other woman was involved in the crime, posted the images to social media with the caption: ‘They move like professional pickpockets. 

‘If anyone knows these girls or knows where they live or hang around please inform me.’

She added: ‘My Nan has shopped in Mare Street for over 12 years every week without fail now she doesn’t even want to go to her local shop.

‘They are targeting vulnerable woman, guys please get this out there!’

Ms Williams’ (pictured) granddaughter said the 70-year-old hasn’t been the same since the incident

Tracie Louise Woolford commented: ‘This makes me so angry, nasty scum bags. Give nan my love Jess. Hope they are caught.’

Mumtaz Khalick said: ‘Disgusting! Hope they get caught soon before they prey on more vulnerable people.’

Mimi Ward replied: ‘If it was me I’d wait there tomorrow for them, it’s obviously a hotspot for the lowlife to pickpocket off vulnerable people.’ 

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