Pensioner robbed in church as she donates cash to collection

Published on Tuesday 24 March 2009 08:37

AN elderly woman was robbed as she put money on to a collection plate during a service in a Leith church.

The victim, who is in her 70s, had only just taken out her purse to contribute to the collection at St Margaret's Scottish Episcopal Church in Easter Road when the thief – who had taken a seat in the pew behind her – struck.

The woman reached over and grabbed the purse before fleeing at around 11.20am on Sunday. A pair of church officials gave chase along Easter Road.

James MacLean, a member of the church vestry, was one of the men who pursued the thief.

The 63-year-old social club secretary, who has been a member of the congregation for 12 years, said: "Another congregation member saw what happened and alerted us, and myself and another official gave chase.

"We have quite an elderly congregation and I think she (the victim] saw the church as a sanctuary. She feels like that and her privacy have been violated. It's terrible that someone can behave like that in a church. I don't know whether we're being deliberately targeted.

"Sadly, we're going to need to take a look at security in the church. Obviously you don't want to start putting up security cameras, but we'll need to do something. We're going to discuss it this Sunday."

He said the theft had happened during the traditional Mother's Day service. Mr MacLean, who lives in Joppa, said the victim was left shocked at being targeted while attending church. Her purse had contained around 15 in cash.

It was the second time the church had been targeted. In July 2007, Mr MacLean pursued and caught another thief who grabbed the Sunday collection and ran off.

On that occasion, the thief had shaken hands with the whole congregation prior to making off with the cash. Mr MacLean and fellow church official Noel Connor followed him to nearby Albert Street and blocked his path while police were called.

But the pair were forced to let the thief go without recovering the money when they realised a 999 operator was not going to get police back-up. The operator was ordered to undergo retraining and the force later apologised.

The Reverend Geoff Hart took the service on Sunday and is expected to be confirmed as rector at the church next month after the departure of Linda Mortis.

&#149 Police said that a 31-year-old woman had been arrested in connection with the theft and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a future date.