I HAVE never written to a newspaper before, but in this case I feel I have to, I feel so incensed.

One Monday my daughter picked her nine-year-old son up from school, then called at the post office to collect her Child Benefit, which she had allowed to accumulate, as usual, until James needed new clothes. She then called at Clinton's card shop near to Safeway in St Helens for a birthday card. She had kept hold of her purse in her pocket, but took her hand out when James showed her a card he liked.

But when she crossed to the till, her purse was missing. And the smartly-dressed young woman with short, dark hair, who had stood next to my daughter, had also disappeared.

It all happened so quickly, my daughter was distraught, as was James. When he saw his mum so upset he offered her his pocket money.

My daughter is a one-parent family and can only work part-time, as James is a special needs child.

No doubt, the thief is gloating, I don't suppose she has a conscience. But I would caution her to beware. God may be slow, but he is very, very sure.

Mary Bahan (James' grandma) Windmill Hill, Runcorn.

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