A Sudbury senior is devastated after losing her purse last week.
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Mabel Patterson, 68, says she had her pension money in a black purse which she believes she left at MuirheadÂ?s downtown while shopping last Friday about 2 pm.
She proceeded to the post office where she realized she did not have her purse. When she went back to the store, the purse was gone.
Patterson, who has health problems and difficulty walking, not only lost money and her ID, she lost information about her income taxes she needed photocopied, and a $50 gift certificate in her name for Pat and MarioÂ?s.
Â?I know I will never probably see my money again,Â? she said but she would like to have her purse returned. The purse had her health card, SIN card, birth certificate, seniorÂ?s card, bank card, bank book, library card, bus pass, the keys to her apartment and her vitamins and supplements.
She said a kind bus driver allowed her on the bus to go home after she told him what happened. Pharmacist Herman Reich, who has a drug store on Regent St. W. helped her contact her landlord.
Patterson has notified police, but hopes someone who may find her purse will return it to her.
Â?All I can do it pray,Â? she said. Â?I am penniless.Â?
Patterson can be contacted at 673-0042.
Anyone who loses their ID should be aware that someone could use it for criminal activities.
ItÂ?s called identity theft and Ontario Provincial Police national statistics show it increased by about 40 per cent last year with over 13,000 Canadians falling victim and losses totaling $21.6 million.
People are advised to contact credit reporting agencies when their ID is missing, because someone could use it to apply for credit in their name.
CanadaÂ?s national credit reporting agencies are Trans Union Canada, Equifax Canada and Northern Credit Bureau. You can phone Equifax Canada at 1-800-465-7166, Trans Union Canada at 1-866-525-0262 (Quebec Residents: 1- 877-713-3393), and Northern Credit Bureau at 1-800-523-8784, toll
Â?Vicki Gilhula
