A terminally ill pensioner was stunned when she woke up to find her front door wide open and her home STRIPPED BARE.
Cathrine MacDonald, 74, was diagnosed with terminal liver failure earlier this year and doctors say she only has weeks left to live.
On November 17 she suffered a heart attack at her home in Bulwell, Nottingham, and spent four days at the city’s Queen’s Medical Centre before being discharged.
But on November 24 Cathrine had another nasty shock when she came downstairs and found that burglars had emptied her home of crockery, electrical goods, mirrors, rugs and kitchen appliances while she and her grandson Ryan Lees, 23, were fast asleep.
Raiders crept into her bedroom and swiped her purse and mobile phone from her bedside as well as a jewellery box containing cufflinks belonging to her late husband Hugh, who died 44 years ago.
The heartless thieves even stole food from her fridge, medication, fresh flowers, furniture polish, plates and washing-up liquid.
The tearful mum-of-five, who also has a kidney disorder and requires dialysis three times a week, said: “I thought my grandson had gone to work and left the door open.
“Then I saw the rugs were up in the hall. I went into the living room and saw what had gone off and screamed for him to come down.
“I’m too frightened to go to sleep. I just want them caught so I can sleep.
“I want to know who it was and why they’ve done it.
“I’ve heard of people being robbed and taking the TV but they’ve even taken my microwave and steamer.
“I’ve literally been left with my sofa and chair.”
The brazen crooks lifted sofas to steal the rugs from underneath.
They unhooked mirrors from walls in the hall and living room and took milk and yoghurt from the fridge, as well as Cathrine’s coats and shoes.
The thieves also made off with her 42-inch Sony TV and Sky Digital box, a DVD player and more than 100 DVDs which included her John Wayne collection.
Her daughter, Sue Lees, 47, said: “They’re lowlife scum, the lowest of the low.
“I’m absolutely disgusted with them. They even took her medication, which she needs to live.
“She is on borrowed time as it is. She is fighting to live every day and may not see another Christmas.
“I want them to know that the sweet old lady they stole from won’t be here for another Christmas and they have ruined her last weeks with us.
“It’s just so unbelievable, the things they have taken. She’s absolutely petrified now in case they come back.
“How low can you get?
“They literally ransacked the whole house. I think it’s probably been someone who has just moved in somewhere, trying to kit out their house.”
“She doesn’t want to stay in the house or go out.”
Nottinghamshire Police has launched an investigation.
A spokesman for the force said: “All burglaries are traumatic for the victim but in this case the victim was particularly vulnerable and has been left devastated by this callous crime.
“We would urge anyone with any information on this incident to please contact us on 101 quoting incident number 62 of 24 November, 2015.”
