AN 84-YEAR-OLD Moray grandmother has spoken of her shock and horror when she returned home to find it had been ransacked by raiders.
Thieves targeted Jenny Low’s New Elgin bungalow while she was out collecting her pension.
After forcing open the back door of the property, they stole £1,000 in cash that she had saved to buy birthday presents for her seven grandchildren.
In addition, the thieves took numerous items of jewellery, some of them of deep sentimental value.
Mrs Low said: “I want the people who did this to pay the consequences.
“I would hate anything like this to happen to another old person.”
Mrs Low has five sons, who are also keen to find out who targeted their mum.
Middle son Bill Chapman, a 57-year-old engineer, said: “It sickens me that something like this has happened.
“It really defies belief that anyone could behave like this. Whoever did this seems to have known my mum’s routine. In my opinion they are absolute scum.”
The thieves left a trail of wreckage in Mrs Low’s home on Friday afternoon. They pulled out all of the clothes from her drawers and left them strewn over the floor.
They also broke the doors of her bedroom cupboard and tipped open a box belonging to the former dressmaker, scattering hundreds of buttons everywhere.
Among the items of jewellery they stole were five gold chains, six bracelets, four watches, two rings and a broach that once belonged to her mother.
Mrs Low is only thankful that she did not disturb the thieves while they were inside her home.
She said: “I nearly walked back to the house because I had forgotten my jumper, but I didn’t want to miss my bus.”
When she did return, she found her immaculately kept home upside down.
Mrs Low said: “While I was still outside I thought something was wrong because there was a light on in the bedroom – I never leave lights on during the day.
“When I came in and saw what had happened, I was horrified.”
She believes the thieves had scouted her property over the previous two nights.
“This may sound silly, but my pet rabbit raised the alarm,” Mrs Low said.
“I let it into the kitchen at night when it’s cold outside and on both Wednesday and Thursday night it kept banging its feet really loudly.
“I have kept rabbits for many years and know they do that when they sense danger.
“I don’t like the idea of someone prowling around outside my house. It’s a horrible feeling to think that you’re being watched.”
The break-in occurred between 1.30pm and 2.45pm on Friday.
It is thought that the thieves used a spade taken from Mrs Low’s garden shed to prise open the back door.
A pillowcase was also taken from the bedroom and this may have been used to carry away her possessions.
A police spokeswoman said: “Investigations are ongoing and we would appeal for witnesses to come forward.”
Anyone with information can ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or contact the police directly on 101.
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