Opportunists Steal Pensioner's Savings After Money Blows In Wind

Blackpool

The Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 05/12/11 09:58 GMT Updated: 05/12/11 10:13 GMT

Opportunists have stolen a large part of a pensioner's life savings after thieves opened a tin containing £35,000 and the money blew away.

The cash, stored in a Quality Street tin in a carrier bag, was stolen from the man's side while he was playing a fruit machine in an arcade in Blackpool.

When the thieves opened the tin, the seaside wind blew the money out. Police rushed to the scene to find members of the public scrambling to get hold of the notes, stuffing them into their pockets.

A 22-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of stealing the bag. The police found the tin still had around £12,000 in it, while £8,000 was recovered from the scene.

But the 75-year-old victim has still lost out on around £12,000, taken by greedy passers-by on Blackpool's famous promenade.

A police spokesman said: "Officers did well to gather what cash they could, taking into account the wind. We would not advise people to carry around such large amounts of cash with them."

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Opportunists have stolen a large part of a pensioner's life savings after thieves opened a tin containing £35,000 and the money blew away. The cash, stored in a Quality Street tin in a carrier ba...
Opportunists have stolen a large part of a pensioner's life savings after thieves opened a tin containing £35,000 and the money blew away. The cash, stored in a Quality Street tin in a carrier ba...
 
 
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12:08 AM on 12/06/2011
What the boys did was bad, but why was the man carrying so much money in a tin. Not sensible
09:53 PM on 12/05/2011
How utterly foolish to carry that amount of money around with you in a tin!
09:38 PM on 12/05/2011
He probably thought it was safer in a tin than left with the greedy bankers ,maybe it was them that were there, when it was blown away as they are opportunists.
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07:14 PM on 12/05/2011
'Greedy' passers by? If you saw a tenner blowing in the wind of course you'd grab it!
08:13 PM on 12/05/2011
Yes, and I'd also look for the person it belonged to, to give it back.
09:55 PM on 12/05/2011
My little one was with me, walking along, when the mite dashed away from me and grabbed things from the ground, turned around with a big grin and presented me with £25 in notes.
Can I keep it Daddy?
Various thoughts went through my head, not least that I wish I had spotted it!
We took it to the local police station( oops, office ) where a very nice wpc recorded the find and explained that if it was not claimed, the finder could keep it.
Bounces of hope and joy from the little one.
One month and a day later my little one increased the bank account, a fiver was used on a book .
Later I understand the rules were changed, 'found money' is no longer returned to the finder but is confiscated by the police, I hope this is not true as 'finders' will now be encouraged to keep their 'finds' with no chance of it being returned to those who lost their property.
I mislaid a bag containing some books and cds, someone spotted them and put them in a prominent place, when I went back searching , an hour later, they were there .
Some of us are still honorable.
Let us 'teach our children well'.
05:34 PM on 12/05/2011
April fools in December methinks!!
03:15 PM on 12/05/2011
The first pockets to check would be the police officers on site we all know how trust worthy they can be
06:06 PM on 12/05/2011
On what personal experience do you base this wild accusation? Or do you just like to malign anyone in authority.
09:15 PM on 12/05/2011
wot a twonker you are
02:44 PM on 12/05/2011
so if i get pulled over with £1000 in my pocket ill get it took by the police until i can prove where its come from ,yet this oap has in best part of £35,000 and no questions asked,bit strange isnt it
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01:31 PM on 12/05/2011
This story just doesn't ring true.
I'm an OAP wouldn't dream of taking my life's savings out in a carrier bag let alone into an amusement acade.
There's no fool like an old one.
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06:49 PM on 12/05/2011
Remember Benny Hill and his carrier bag full of cash.
09:19 PM on 12/05/2011
Errrm. No. I can't say I do.
01:07 PM on 12/05/2011
I'm sorry he lost his savings, but why on earth would you carry £35k around with you in a shopping bag? That was a disaster waiting to happen.
06:48 PM on 12/05/2011
Tax evasion?
09:42 PM on 12/05/2011
Nah - he didn't trust the banks - with them he would have lost 20k!
12:57 PM on 12/05/2011
I thought they meant the hot air coming out of politicians mouths!
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12:03 PM on 12/05/2011
I can't help but think.
Makalha
Opinions are not facts.
01:10 PM on 12/05/2011
Ok ..... but what about ? ;-\
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