Cops fail to release CCTV of theft from blind pensioner

6:43pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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Police have still not released a CCTV image of a woman who stole almost £500 from a blind pensioner.

It is now nearly a month since the 75-year-old had his cash card stolen while inside Lloyds TSB in Kingston town centre on July 12.

Police have so far failed to release the CCTV footage despite repeated requests from the Surrey Comet.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said: “It seems to be a very long, bureaucratic process. They are always saying how CCTV has helped tackle crime but if it takes this long people could be out of the country by the time they receive pictures.

“To them in the context of the scheme of things it was a fairly minor crime and nobody was hurt so perhaps it is not taken priority.”

The woman who took his card had the gall to return to the bank moments later and withdraw £480 from an inside cashpoint and bank staff told the victim he was not the first to be caught out by a similar trick.

A police spokesman said it took nine days for an officer to be assigned to the case.

She said: “From viewing the crime report I can advise the offence took place on July 12 and was reported to police the same day.

“It went through the crime management unit and was assigned to an officer to delegate. The officer was on operational duties away from the station and unable to deal until he officially had it handed over to him on the 21st. He then requested the footage on the 22nd.

“The images were circulated to officers locally and on surrounding boroughs. This is good practice and frequently leads to the identification of suspects. Where this does not happen consideration is given to enlisting public help through the media.”