The news that an 80-year-old great-grandmother has been the target of burglars twice in less than 24 hours will cause widespread anger and disgust.
Rosaleen Wilson, who has COPD and requires oxygen, has told this newspaper how she has been left feeling devastated and in fear after intruders entered her home in Bearnagh Drive in west Belfast in broad daylight, then again just hours later.
In the first robbery around 11am on Monday, a man stole her handbag containing a large sum of money as well as bank cards and gift vouchers while she slept.
Her daughter Colette caught sight of the burglar and pushed him out of the house. Despite giving chase, he managed to escape by car in the direction of the Andersonstown Road.
Then, when the pensioner awoke yesterday morning, she discovered her bedroom had been ransacked and money and jewellery stolen.
CCTV has since shown two figures entering the house at around 4.20am yesterday.
It is hard for many of us to comprehend the mindset of those who prey on the elderly and defenceless.
The brazen and cowardly thieves who robbed this elderly lady will have been looking for an easy target and clearly had no concerns about being confronted.
Rosaleen Wilson would not have posed any threat to them but they could not have cared less that they would be causing her extreme distress and trauma.
Sadly, this was not the only incident in recent weeks where an elderly person has been targeted in west Belfast.
An intruder made his way into the home of an 88-year-old woman in the Springfield Road area while she was alone in the house. The man claimed to be there to check on her water before going upstairs.
Despite her age, the lady had the presence of mind to challenge him, ordering him out of the house but not before he tried to con money out of her.
However, there is always a danger that an incident such as this could turn nasty.
It is disturbing to think there are people in our community deliberately identifying those who are vulnerable and setting out to steal their hard earned money and property.
As well as taking their goods, the criminals are also robbing them of peace of mind and violating the space where they should feel safest.
It is of vital importance that those responsible for these appalling crimes are brought to justice and anyone with any information should come forward to the police as a matter of urgency.
