A callous thief broke into a pensioner’s home and stole £150 while she was distracted outside during the weekly ‘Clap for Carers’.
Janet Crimmins, 73, was standing outside her front door clapping with neighbours for NHS staff and key workers fighting in the coronavirus crisis when a sneak thief entered through her back garden and raided her purse.
Janet said she felt "physically sick" knowing that the burglar took advantage of her while she was taking part in the weekly round of applause.
Self-isolating Janet said she never kept money in the house but needed cash to give to people collecting food and supplies for her.
She said: "On Thursday evening a group of neighbours went to our front doors to clap for the key workers and I came in after around 20 minutes and locked my doors.
"My purse was still where I left it. In the morning I picked it up and noticed all the cash had gone. I put it down in a daze and picked it back up again.
"In our community we are very close-knit and you wouldn't expect this. I feel physically sick.
"I normally keep my doors locked and don't normally keep so much cash, but I had £150 there in case I needed to pay for supplies.
Neighbours have rallied round Janet, of Caerphilly, South Wales, to see she doesn't go without after the theft.
She said: "The support has just been overwhelming. I have done a lot in my community and people are repaying that to me with kindness."
Gwent Police said it was investigating and appealed for any neighbours with CCTV to come forward.
A spokeswoman said: "We received a report of a theft at an address in Trevelyan Court, Caerphilly, after £150 was reported missing from the purse of the property owner.
"The incident is believed to have taken place at around 8.15pm on Thursday 16 April.
"We are appealing for any witnesses or any individuals who may have CCTV footage, dashcam footage from a vehicle on the street or information about this incident to contact Gwent Police."
