OAP robbed of £250 by taxi driver
A TEARFUL pensioner has told how she has been left too frightened to leave her home after a heartless taxi driver stole her disability allowance.
The OAP, who walks with the aid of a Zimmer frame, was devastated when she discovered that £250 had been taken from her handbag by the cruel cabbie.
She said the driver – who knew her from previous private hires – had stopped to offer her a lift as she was walking a short distance from her home in the South End of Paisley.
After the 68-year-old victim reluctantly agreed to get in the taxi, the driver took his time loading her shopping trolley, which contained her handbag and a £487 income support grant to help with her disability, into the boot of his car.
And the elderly woman – who has asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals – said that, by the time she checked the money after arriving home, £250 had been stolen.
Fighting back tears, the OAP told the Paisley Daily Express: “I know for a fact that the money was stolen because it was checked and double checked for me at the Post Office when I picked up my disability allowance. I then put the money in an envelope at the very bottom of my bag until I opened it again when I got home.
“I’ve been in bits about this. I never used to be so nervous and constantly looking over my shoulder but this has completely knocked my faith in people and I’ve found myself in tears over it.
“To be honest, it now takes me a lot more effort to even leave the house because of what has happened to me.
“People at my age should be enjoying the nicer things in life, not worrying about being robbed of the little money we have.”
The pensioner complained to the cab firm involved and the driver who was accused of stealing her money has since left the company.
It is understood the police were also asked to investigate but didn’t have enough evidence to charge the driver.
The OAP added: “I use taxis regularly because it’s the only way I can get about in my condition as I have very poor circulation to my legs and arms these days.
“I know some of the drivers so well that I call them ‘my boys’ and take out a chocolate treat for them when they come for me but now I’m more wary of everyone and that’s an awful feeling.
“It’s not even the fact I’ve lost the money that upsets me the most. What really hurts is that I was betrayed in this way by someone I should have been able to trust.”
http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/
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