A Weymouth pensioner told of her shock after her purse was stolen from her handbag.

The theft happened earlier this month before the current lockdown.

Lesley Green, 66, had gone into town to buy a birthday present for her grandson when her purse was stolen while she was in the queue in the Card Factory shop, St Mary Street. The purse contained all of her cards, which she has now cancelled, but Lesley says the incident left her fearful of leaving her house.

“It was a shock because I’m a pensioner. I have to go out but I have been left with no money.

“I am absolutely devastated, I couldn’t believe it and I can’t get over it. I’m still in shock. I know it happens but you never think it’s going to happen to you.

“Now my grandson hasn’t got a birthday present because there are these people out there targeting pensioners.

“When you have had your purse stolen it’s just terrible. It shook me up and I’m still shaken up.”

The incident has left Lesley worrying about what to do amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She added: “I live on my own and my daughter is a nurse so she is very busy at the moment. I can’t do anything at the moment.

“Now I’m worried about the next couple of weeks. My food might run out and I won’t have any money to buy some more.

“It’s very frightening when you live on your own because you have nobody to chew it over with.

“I’m scared to leave the house. I’m worried because you don’t know who’s about, do you? It’s a bad world at the moment.

“I have underlying health conditions as well because I have asthma and I had a heart attack a couple of years back.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made. This incident must have been very upsetting for the victim, particularly at a time when we are encouraging members of our communities to be looking out for each other.

“Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55200041413.”

Lesley had just one message to the person who stole her purse: “Please return my purse with everything in it and think about what you are doing before you do it. And stop targeting pensioners.”