Bedroom bear catches thief
21/08/2008
A teddy bear fitted with a surveillance camera was used to catch a carer stealing from a pensioner, it has been revealed.
Thelma Sampson, a 75-year-old leukaemia sufferer who noticed her money going missing, raised her concerns with relatives, who took action.
A pink teddy bear was used by Ms Sampson''s son, Robert, as camouflage for the miniature camera fitted into its eye, which caught 28-year-old carer Yvonne Allen stealing £60 from his mother''s bedroom.
District judge Ian Lomax sentenced Ms Allen to six months in prison for her crime.
In comments reported by This is London, he said: "What made the matter worse was that the defendant sought to justify her actions because she was in debt.
"In reality she had several hundred pounds saved for a forthcoming holiday to Las Vegas."
Another carer was brought up in front of Wigan magistrates court last month accused of stealing over £26,000 from a patient, the Wigan Evening Post reported.
