[James]

Rat bags £2k from BB Orla


BIG Brother babe Orlaith McAllister is feeling down at heel after her £4,000 handbag was stolen in a shoe shop.

The thief grabbed the designer bag - containing £2,000 cash and a mobile phone packed with celebs’ numbers - while Orlaith was trying on boots in London’s Oxford Street.

She said last night: 'It’s been a nightmare.'

Orlaith, 26, was with Blue Peter star Zoe Salmon when the thief struck.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005530096,00.html

[Ruth]

Why was she carrying two grand around in her handbag? And then leaving her bag where it was obviously easy for someone to pick up?? But daft really - mind you that's no excuse whatsoever for the thieving scumbag who took it.

[Z]

I'd laugh but like Ruth said, it's no excuse. Is it just me or are this year's BB contestents more prone to violence and crime??

[jrc]

No Orlaith's just a bit of an airhead, that's all. I'm not justifying anything, but no one can deny that she's a bit of an airhead.

[ThaGazBoi]

Thats true..

[CharlotteSometimes]

Originally posted by Ruth

Why was she carrying two grand around in her handbag?

Jack Dee mentioned something like that on his BBC1 series recently, although he may have said £500. It is very unusual that people who get mugged often have a large, round sum of money in their possession at the time.

It's horrible if and when it happens, though. I had an elderly neighbour a few years ago that was mugged on her way from the bank to Tescos. The Police found an 'X' chalked on the back of her coat. So somebody had watched in the bank queue, recognised that she was vulnerable and had just withdrawn that week's house-keeping money, and marked her so that his or her accomplice waiting outside would recognise the target.

[Romantic Old Bird]

How awful (I mean the old lady with the X!!)

My mum was robbed by a thief who came to her door, supposedly to sell dusters etc. She didn't need anything, but felt sorry for him and bought a peg bag. He then asked for a cup of tea, and she made him one.

When she brought the tea out, he took a couple of mouthfuls and left. She realised he had taken her month's rent money (£80) which she had taken out from her pension money and hidden in the cupboard under some teatowels, when they came to collect it that day.

Now, you might think 'how silly of her' on several fronts. However, she was a very bright and kind lady who had always found something good in everyone she met. She would have given the man £80 if he had told her he was desperate. She had always taken in and helped people in trouble. I never knew who might be staying in our back room for a few days.

Once it was a girl 'in trouble' whose parents had thrown her out. Another time it was a young couple whose house had been repossessed.

She was a sweet and gentle soul, and when this happened to her she felt so stupid and hurt. She was so distressed that she had a ministroke later the same day. She lost her confidence completely and died within a few weeks.

Until that time, she was well and active. In effect, those pigs broke her heart. They might as well have killed her. I suppose it was all in a day's work for them.

Back to Orlaith - well I am sorry that it happened to her, but who on earth needs to carry that much cash? Silly girl.

[Fangz]

Oh ROB, I'm so sorry. Sounds like your mum was a lovely, generous person. I don't know how people can betray people's trust like that, I think it's disgusting.

[jrc]

Aww, that's horrible. I felt like crying when I read that. My friends were mugged the other day on the train home from school. They lost their phones. They weren't injured or anything, but I still felt a bit sorry for them.

[Z]

That's a shame jrc!! I can't stand it when these stupid crimes happen.

Although, today on the bus, one of the guys in my year stupidly gave this bam £1. He fell for this story, hook, line and sinker. *sighs*

[Ruth]

ROB, I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. I think it's so despicable when people prey on the vulnerable in that way.

Sorry about your friends too jrc.

[CharlotteSometimes]

Originally posted by Romantic Old Bird

How awful (I mean the old lady with the X!!)

Yeah, she never left home unless it was by taxi there and back after that. And, strangely enough, the exact same thing (with the chalk) was part of the storyline in The Bill last night, too.

Sorry to hear about your mum, ROB. It's bad enough that things like that happen anyway, but when they take advantage of someone that's doing them a good deed at the time, it's beneath contempt.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by CharlotteSometimes
It's horrible if and when it happens, though. I had an elderly neighbour a few years ago that was mugged on her way from the bank to Tescos. The Police found an 'X' chalked on the back of her coat. So somebody had watched in the bank queue, recognised that she was vulnerable and had just withdrawn that week's house-keeping money, and marked her so that his or her accomplice waiting outside would recognise the target.

I must have missed Charlotte's post before. Swearing is banned on this forum, so I can't say what I'd like to call the people who commit these sorts of crimes.

I've heard about this before, where people are seen withdrawing money, and 'marked' in some way. It's awful. It's made me very wary when I go to the cashpoint.