A shameless thief put a dampener on an elderly Palmerston North couple's festive season when he stole a handbag from their car after having been given money by them for food.
The couple, an 88-year-old woman and her blind husband, were waiting inside Palmerston North Hospital yesterday when a drunk man approached and began talking to them, the Manawatu Evening Standard reported.
Police constable Daniel McInnes said the woman gave the man $3 to buy a pie, and when she was later helping her husband into their car in the hospital carpark the same man reached in and stole her handbag, which contained $100 cash and other belongings.
Mr McInnes said it was a "despicable" crime.
The couple's daughter said her parents, who always saw the best in people, were left shocked.
The offender was described as a Pacific Islander or dark-skinned Maori in his 20s or 30s, with distinctive shoulder-length, curly hair.
NZPA