Camden News: Sarah Nielson | Post Office | Camden High Street | Handbag | Theft

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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 11 December 2008

Sarah Nielsen with daughter Elsa close to the scene of the road accident

Thieves steal from crash-help mother

Woman’s purse taken from buggy as she rushed to accident victim

A GOOD Samaritan mum who stopped to help the victim of a horrific motorcycle accident had her bag stolen from the back of her child’s buggy.
Mother-of-two Sarah Nielsen was waiting outside Camden High Street post office on Tuesday morning when two motorbikes collided nearby.
A woman riding one of the bikes suffered serious injuries.
Ms Nielsen was first to react, calling 999 and rushing to help.
“The biker was conscious but she was bleeding,” she said. “She wasn’t talking and was incredibly shocked.
“I quickly dialled an ambulance and followed the instructions the emergency services gave me over the telephone.
“The poor woman looked in a real state.”
Ms Nielsen was with her daughter, 21-month-old Elsa, and took her out of her pushchair as she raced to help the stricken motorcyclist. Other people gathered round to see what the commotion was about – and it was then the heartless thief struck.
Ms Nielsen said: “I was just two metres at the most away from the buggy when they took it, and there were lots of people around. I can’t believe no one said anything.”
She realised the bag had been taken when an ambulance arrived.
And although it contained only a small amount of money, it was the manner of the theft which was so distressing.
Ms Nielsen added: “It had all my credit cards in it and my door keys. I had to call out a locksmith which cost nearly £400, and I lost lots of other little things.
“The purse inside had sentimental value – my mother had sent it to me from Australia when I had my first child. But, above all, the fact someone could do this while I was helping someone who for all they knew could have been seriously injured is just so awful. And the fact no one stopped them doing it has also left me feeling pretty shocked.”
The stolen purse was red with an embroidered design of two little boys on it. Ms Nielsen added: “It is not worth anything to anyone, but it meant a lot to me.”
A Camden police spokeswoman said the chances of the thief being caught were slim.
She added: “Here’s an example of someone who has done the right thing by stopping to render assistance at the scene of an accident.
“It’s very sad that someone decided to steal from her pushchair.
“People really do need to be vigilant and take care of their belongings at all times.”

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