CAN I make an appeal to old people - via your columns - for vigilance when using public transport in the St Helens area?

My recently widowed mother-in-law, who is 85 years old, was unfortunate enough to encounter a sub-human scumbag while travelling on the 49 bus route from Rainhill to Thatto Heath.

This specimen, who was apparently a young man in his twenties, obviously noticed that her large shopping bag was unzipped, and decided to relieve her of her purse containing £80, her bank card, a number of sentimental items relating to her late husband, and her house keys.

As a result, this poor old lady, who has never harmed a soul in her life, has been forced to spend a substantial amount of money changing the locks at her home, and remains quite distraught at the prospect of venturing out alone again.

I hope that the lay-about concerned is proud of himself.

Ian Brandes, Birkdale, Southport.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.