The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The public have given a pensioner a birthday to remember by pledging to reimburse the £500 she had stolen in a mugging in Spalding just a few days before.
Mum and daughter Tracy Wolfe and Millie Gent launched the public appeal after their mum and ‘nan’ Carmen (67) had £500 snatched from her in Market Place shortly after 10.30am on Wednesday May 1.
Lincolnshire Police say Carmen was drawing the cash out from the NatWest cash machine when a man grabbed it and ran off down the alleyway next to the South Holland Centre.
Her family say she was left “shaken and very upset” after being pushed out of the way by the man in the incident.
Granddaughter Millie launched the appeal ‘Millie’s Nan emergency fundraiser’ because “she doesn’t have this sort of money to lose” and to “get her back on her feet and back to herself”.
Thanks to over 40 donations it raised more tha £500 in time for Carmen’s 67th birthday on Tuesday, May 7.
Addressing those that donated on Facebook, Tracy Wolfe said: “I cannot believe we did it! “Thank you so, so, much each to everyone that has kindly donated to help us get back all the money my Mum had mugged.
“This is truly outstanding and I am gobsmacked at your true love, care and generosity towards my Mum.
“Thanks to the donations she can now pay her bills without the worry and stress of being in arrears.
“You will never know what this means and I know when we give her this with all your names in a card she will be amazed.”
Millie added that she “couldn’t believe” the response to the fundraiser: “She is going to be so happy. I love you (Nan) so bloody much you’re my rock forever!
“I hope you have the best birthday you deserve nanny.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police, said that as of yet no arrests have been made following the incident and they would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed it.
A spokesman said: “The incident refers to a robbery at Natwest cash machine in Spalding Market Place. It was reported to have happened at 10.37am on May 1.
“A woman withdrew £500 from the cash machine when a man grabbed the money and ran off down the alleyway next to the South Holland Centre.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at this time and may have witnessed this incident to call us on 101, incident number 85.”
