A DEVASTATED mum’s handbag containing a Mother’s Day card from her dead son was stolen from a Macclesfield churchyard after a visit to his grave.
Former Gawsworth resident Mary Booth, 64, and her husband John, 65, now of Congleton, were visiting their son Matthew’s grave at St James’ Church, Gawsworth, when Mary accidentally left her bag behind.
The bag contained other poignant memories of Matthew, including treasured photos.
Mary said: "I can’t believe in a place of worship somebody has come along and taken my bag. I’m annoyed and angry more than anything – I can’t believe someone would go into a churchyard and steal something. I was putting some hyacinths on the grave and put my handbag down on the bench while I was doing it. When I realised I hadn’t got my bag, we went straight back for it. I’d only been gone half an hour, but it was gone."
Mary and John’s only son, Matthew, died at the age of just 29 when his immune system was weakened by glandular fever.
Mary kept a Mother’s Day card, some family jewellery, and a cheque Matthew had written out to her in the bag.
The mother-of-one, a retired funeral director, said: "The thing that has upset me the most is that it had some photos of my son, which were of sentimental value. When he was in hospital he said he owed me some money and wrote me a cheque. I never cashed it and kept it in my bag. It’s all the memorabilia I will never be able to replace. I hope someone will feel guilty enough to return it."
The bag is described as modern, in tan leather, with buckles on either side and was taken from the church between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Sunday, March 29.
Inspector Gareth Woods, head of Macclesfield’s Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "It’s a reasonably unusual case because the sort of people visiting would generally be there to pay their respects and I’m hoping it could still be somebody who’s picked it up to return it. From my experience, we do get a lot of handbags turning up. Usually the money is taken out and they are tossed aside, so Mrs Booth’s things may be safe – all is not lost."
If you have any information, call 0845 4580000, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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You'd have though if someone intended to hand it in they would have done so already. I for one am not comfortable with Wood's reactive wait & see approach to policing, Mary deserves better.
Gareth Woods instructs staff "put feet up on desk and play the waiting game"
Terrible.
Dear All
This offence was investigated on the day that it was reported as is normal practice with all local crime. The area is not covered by CCTV, visitors to the area who were spoken to could not provide any information to help pinpoint who may have taken the bag, there is no crime scene suitable for examination by our Crime Scene Investigation Dept, the staff working in the area hadnt seen anything or anyone untoward so the ability to progress the enquiry further simply isnt there. It was always a possibility that someone had picked the bag up but as time has gone by that theory can quite easily be ruled out. Mary has been updated of all of the enquiries undertaken and if any new information comes to light she will be the first to know.
Regards
Insp Gareth Woods
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team
Insp Woods - I wouldn't waste further time responding to snide heckling from the antipodean peanut gallery...
When I read Woods' comments at times I wonder if he is out of his depth at this level. "Reasonably unusual" -its a simple case of theft Inspector Woods, i wish you would stop musing on the fact it was stolen from a graveyard and crack on. Your subsequent attempt to backtrack hasnt worked and i am sure i am not alone in thinking this is simply poor, lax, policework - "ooh, it was taken from a graveyard, fingers crossed a good samaritan will have picked it up"
You come on here telling us all about the drug problems in Macc and what you are doing to combat them, yet when a crime (probably commited by an addict) occurs you comment in a way completely contrary to the perception of yourself that you typically like to give when giving us your spin on other issues.
Not acceptable.
Good sniping SC!
Its a shame for Mary.
Must hurt.
Exactly SW - Mary is the victim in this, token efforts from the police arent enough.