Some bingo loving pensioners have been left in total shocked and too frightened to go home after a man entered St Patrick’s church in Larkfield, Greenock, whist they were in the middle of their twice weekly game of bingo on Sunday night and stole a bag of cash, which contained charity money the church had raised. It has been said that more than 30 pensioners were left to scared to leave the church in case the thief was still out there.

One of the organisers of the bingo games at St Andrews Church, Isobel Duffy said, “It is so low to steal from a church hall. He stood there for a few minutes, as if he was looking for someone, then he grabbed the money and ran out the door.” He knew what he was doing and the street lights have been out in Larkfield so we couldn’t see him. It’s a church hall where elderly people play bingo and some people were frightened to go home at the end of the night in case he was still there. I’ve never seen him before but I would know him if I saw him again.”

Mrs Duffy seems like a plucky lady as she and two other people from the church rushed out after the thief, but were unable to see where he went. The bag of cash that was stolen contained the money from the bingo ticket sales on the night and it was being set aside to go to charities like, , Inverclyde Autism Support group, Ardgowan Hospice and Inverclyde Royal Hospital, which the church and their patrons help to support.

Police Sergeant Danny Godfrey, of Greenock police, had this to say about the incident, “It is absolutely despicable to take advantage of the vulnerable people in society. This looks like a desperate act by desperate people to do that to elderly people, especially in a church hall.”

It is thought that a good description was given of the thief, so if you live in the Greenock area, then the man who stole the charity money is said to be in his early 20’s, appox 5ft 6ins tall, with ginger hair and a medium build. Anyone with any information relating to this incident are asked to contact their local police station or Crimestoppers anonymously.