Handbag stolen as widow visits late husband's grave

A widow in her sixties has spoken out in disbelief and anger against the thief who stole her handbag from a car, while she was laying a wreath on her late husband's grave.

Rosemary Crouch from Selsey in West Sussex, said a friend had driven her to St Wilfrid's Chapel in the village of Church Norton and they had parked just outside the church grounds in a car park shared with the neighbouring nature reserve.

The visit was expected to be a short one, to lay flowers at family graves. Her husband Ronald Crouch died from cancer in April, and Mrs Crouch who uses a walking stick, was diagnosed with a brain tumour two months ago.

Mrs Crouch said that expected the visit to last about ten minutes and since she had the wreath with her, she tucked her handbag away in one of the car's footwells. Shortly after they reached the graveside to place the flowers, she and her friend heard the sound of glass smashing and a car alarm go off. They returned to their parking space to find that her friend's car had been broken into and the handbag taken.

The handbag also contained her Christmas cards in envelopes which had stamps on them and were ready to be posted. Mrs Crouch begins her medical treatment for the brain tumour in January. In the meantime she is hoping against hope, that somehow the precious mementos of her late husband will be returned.