A brave pensioner has told how she chased a thief from her room in a sheltered housing complex after the female intruder stole her treasured jewellery.
Joan Pollock (77), from Fintry, wept as she recalled how police brought her late husband’s gold wedding ring back two days after it was pawned by the callous thief.
”I never thought I would see them again,” Mrs Pollock said. ”I was shattered it was my husband Bill’s wedding ring and my pal’s ring. I was very lucky to get them back. I didn’t think I was going to.”
Mrs Pollock was speaking after Samantha Jacqueline Stewart (24), c/o Honeyman, St Clement Place, admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court that on March 2 this year she stole five gold rings from the elderly woman at her home in the complex in Fintry.
Sentence was deferred on Stewart until December 20 for reports.
Brave Mrs Pollock said she had been in her room in the complex when her door, which was closed but unlocked, was opened and a woman walked in.
”I asked her who she was and she said: ‘I’m Mike’s girlfriend’. Mike used to live downstairs,” she explained. ”She asked if I had any glue and I said I didn’t and then she asked for a glass of water.
”I went to get it and she ran out of the room. I saw her hand behind her back and looked down to where my rings were on the table and they were gone.
”I realised she had stolen them and ran after her. I told the complex manager and people went to look for her but she was gone. She must have had a car to get away.
”We called the police but I thought that was the last I would see them. Then a couple of days later the police came back and said they had something for me.
”They put the rings in my hand and I couldn’t believe it. I was crying and I phoned my nieces and they came over.”
Mrs Pollock was told the rings, which mean so much to her, had been pawned for just £270.