Hundreds of pounds have poured in for an Angus octogenarian robbed of her pension in a daylight attack.
Police are still hunting the male who cruelly targeted the 81-year-old, minutes after she left Arbroath’s Cairnie Street post office on Monday afternoon.
The thief grabbed her purse and cash from her, making off along the street as he fled from the shaken but unhurt OAP around 1.30pm.
She did not require hospital treatment, but the incident has shocked locals — who have delivered an instant response in support of the victim.
Through social media postings including the Friends of Red Lichties Online Facebook page, a plea was put out for donations and more than £600 flooded in within just a few hours.
The cash was collected at the Peggy’s takeaway in Keptie Street — near the scene of the shocking incident — and shop owner Clive Jones said he was staggered by the reaction.
“The idea wasn’t down to me, it was others including Darren Stewart who suggested we could get donations, but I was happy for them to be handed in to the shop and we will pass the money on to police for them to give to this lady.
“We’re not intending it to run on and on, it was just an idea to ask for donations on one day and we thought if we could get about £200 to £250 that would be good, but people have been coming in with everything up to £50.
“There are a lot of good people out there who wanted to give something to help this lady,” added Mr Jones.
There has been a significant online reaction to the despicable crime, with bitter condemnation of the thief.
Police Scotland said that inquiries into the incident are continuing, and have urged anyone with information, or who may have been in the vicinity at the time, to contact 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Cairnie Street post office sits on a busy road and the hope is that pedestrians or motorists may be able to provide vital clues in the hunt for the robber.
