I think it's despicable that thieves have stolen a 99-year-old Age UK volunteer's lifeline mobility scooter
“She is the charity's oldest volunteer and is a familiar face at the shop.”
Thieves who stole a 99-year-old woman's mobility scooter from outside a charity shop have been described as 'despicable'.
The scooter belonging to Irene Hamilton was parked outside the Age UK shop in St Annes when it was taken on Friday afternoon. Irene volunteers at the shop on St Annes Road West, St Annes three mornings a week.
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In fact, she is Age UK's oldest active volunteer and has become a familiar face amongst visitors to the shop. Manager Stephon Medorth said the theft had left his veteran volunteer 'very upset' and he condemned the thieves as 'despicable'.
He said: "I suppose people will do anything if they have an addiction or something, but this is terrible and has left Irene very shaken. She relies on the scooter to get around because she has serious mobility issues.
"It's her lifeline and I don't know what she will do without it. I find it amazing that she is so active at her age but I hope this doesn't set her back. She is the charity's oldest volunteer and is a familiar face at the shop."
Mr Medorth said Irene didn't discover her scooter was missing until she left the shop at the end of her regular Friday shift. "She came back into the shop very shocked and said someone had taken her scooter," said Mr Medorth.
"As far as we know, no one saw anything but we called the police and luckily they were able to take Irene home. She has managed to borrow a scooter from a neighbour but we don't know what she will do in the long term. Police have told us they will monitor CCTV to find out if the theft was caught on camera."
Anyone with information should contact police on 101.