Gang rob 86-year-old man in Gloucester city centre

“Of course, if somebody had tried to stop them then the liberal soft-heads would have been up in arms:

'oh, they have rights, don't be xenophobic waa waa!'

They'll rob the wrong person one day and then they'll be sorry.”

“Let's see some visible police presence in that area at all time ."

Fat chance of that and it's nothing to do with the cuts.”

“spindles 12 . It doesn't matter why he was taking it from one account to put some into his post office account ., if that was indeed the case . What it does highlight is that older members of the public are a sort touch for these despicable individuals . As others have said, with all the CCTV in the city centre , especially in and around banks and the main post office , why haven't we got images of these people ? These sort of stories will only make elderly people think twice about going into the city centre and reduce even further the footfall there .
With the number of banks there are around The Cross surely it's in their own interest , and for that of their customers , that there is a concentrated surveillance system in place to look out for potential incidents/problems . A lot of people only go into the city centre to go to the bank, so it is of utmost importance that they feel safe . Without the banks on The Cross , there would be a massive reduction in footfall , and the surrounding shops would really suffer . Let's see some visible police presence in that area at all time .”

“Why would someone withdraw cash from a building society and then pay it into a Post Office account? Presumably the interest rate is higher or something so, if that is the case, why not have all money paid into the Post Office?

It is a disgusting crime and shouldn't happen but it does and in spite of all the cameras around, it still seems impossible for the police to find these people. Presumably they don't just come into Gloucester rob one person and then leave? One solution would be for the police to get out and about in the streets and be a visible presence like the good old days when I was a special constable. Where are all the police officers, community support officers and special constables that Gloucester is supposed to have, you never see any these days? Where I live there was the constant sound of police sirens but you hardly hear them either so where are they all?

I think that these days people have to be far more aware of what is going on around them and if they think a crime is about to be committed then tell someone or even the person who is being targeted. I have seen people acting in a suspicious way in shops and I either hang around by them so they can't steal whatever it is they had their eye on or I tell security or a shop assistant. I even did it on holiday in Tenerife once. I saw a man stuff 200 cigarettes inside his coat, told the assistant and she ran after him and she got them back, a braver woman than me! I'm afraid the days of relying on a policeman to be a deterrent have long gone and I don't think we will ever get them back.”

“Whilst not wishing to detract from the seriousness of this crime, as vile as it is, this is not robbery, it is theft. Robbery involves an element of violence or threat of violence, and in this case it appears the victim did not even realise the theft until he came to discover the money missing when in the post office.

As I said, a vile and disgusting crime, but not the robbery as suggested by TIG's headline.”

“IsitJimKerr, the challenge is, if this is in fact Eastern Europeans thieves, they are almost certainly of an itinerant nature, if not just on a thieving holiday for a few weeks. Even with excellent quality CCTV such as the Post Office have it is unlikely that they are "known" and have probably already moved onto the next town or city.

This is the sort of case that is frustrating to all concerned but almost impossible to solve.”

“Pointless even trying to catch them, they'll get their wrists slapped at worst.
So, with all this hi-tech CCTV that we've all paid for, surely plod can come up with some mug-shots?”

“Awwww That's So Mean! :0(”