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Ketchup gang steal Christmas cash | Ketchup gang steal Christmas cash |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An 84-year-old woman and her daughter have lost £4,600 of Christmas savings after a gang distracted them by squirting them with tomato ketchup. | An 84-year-old woman and her daughter have lost £4,600 of Christmas savings after a gang distracted them by squirting them with tomato ketchup. |
Violet Burnejko and Pauline Driver, 60, were approached soon after leaving the Halifax Bank in Oxford with the money. | |
Two women and a man distracted them in the nearby Westgate Centre by squirting sauce on their coats. They stole the money as they helped to clean them up. | Two women and a man distracted them in the nearby Westgate Centre by squirting sauce on their coats. They stole the money as they helped to clean them up. |
The bank has been criticised for counting out the cash in public view. | The bank has been criticised for counting out the cash in public view. |
'No money for Christmas' | 'No money for Christmas' |
Samantha Holmes, Ms Burnejko's granddaughter, said the whole family had paid in to the savings account: "We're just very angry that people can take your hard-earned money like this. | Samantha Holmes, Ms Burnejko's granddaughter, said the whole family had paid in to the savings account: "We're just very angry that people can take your hard-earned money like this. |
"My nan's been doing this Christmas club for our family for 20 odd years, and people can just come along and take it all away. | "My nan's been doing this Christmas club for our family for 20 odd years, and people can just come along and take it all away. |
"We have no money for Christmas now, but they've not ruined Christmas as we've still got each other." | "We have no money for Christmas now, but they've not ruined Christmas as we've still got each other." |
The safety and security of our customers is a top priority Halifax statement | The safety and security of our customers is a top priority Halifax statement |
Ms Holmes said her grandmother was given the money in a room that was in view of passers-by, and a more secure room should have been used. | Ms Holmes said her grandmother was given the money in a room that was in view of passers-by, and a more secure room should have been used. |
"We're angry with the Halifax, to be honest, for taking her into a room that can be seen from the street. | "We're angry with the Halifax, to be honest, for taking her into a room that can be seen from the street. |
"They've always taken my nan into the room, so it's a wonder it hasn't happened before." | |
A statement from Halifax said: "The safety and security of our customers is a top priority and we were extremely sorry to hear about this incident. | A statement from Halifax said: "The safety and security of our customers is a top priority and we were extremely sorry to hear about this incident. |
"We contacted the police as soon as we were made aware and have been working with them to assist with their investigations. | "We contacted the police as soon as we were made aware and have been working with them to assist with their investigations. |
"As this is a police matter we are unable to comment any further but we can confirm that we are assessing the meeting rooms in this branch." | "As this is a police matter we are unable to comment any further but we can confirm that we are assessing the meeting rooms in this branch." |
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