FAKENHAM: Pensioner feared knife-weilding raider would ‘finish me off’
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A pensioner was punched and threatened with a knife before a robber raided a social club’s safe to take hundreds of pounds of charity cash.
The 69-year-old woman, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, initially refused the man’s demands to open the safe at Fakenham’s Press Club and then feared for her life when he began to jab at her face with a knife.
She suffered a black eye and scratches to her face during the attack on Sunday.
The club official is now considering her future at the Oak Street bar after being attacked by thieves for the second time in two years.
And she is particularly devastated that the thief took £300 raised for the British Heart Foundation by club members.
Police have released an e-fit of the raider and have pleaded for help to trace him.
The woman said: “I wondered if he was going to finish me off. I did think he was going to stab me.
“It was dark the last time it happened. I would not expect anything to happen during the day. “
She added: “I don’t know if I will carry on.”
The pensioner had gone to the club on Sunday morning to tidy up and her ordeal began at 9.30am when she answered the door.
The man, who is thought to be in his 40s and was dressed in black, pushed his way in the club and its bar.
The man then demanded money but the woman refused to open the safe.
The woman said: “I am known for my stubbornness. I said we haven’t got any money.When I refused to go in the safe, he punched me in the eye.”
He then picked up a fruit knife, which had been left on the bar from the night before, and jabbed at the pensioner’s face while again demanding she open the safe. The knife left the woman, who did then open the safe, with some scratch marks.
The women hid around the corner to wait for him to leave before calling the police.
The woman said: “It was a frightening experience. I would recognise him again if I saw him. I have never seen him before.”
She estimated the safe contained “several hundreds of pounds” of the club’s money, plus a £300 donation for the British Heart Foundation.
The woman said: “It is so sad. We raised the money through a raffle and pool matches.
“We never have any trouble down there and the members are great. This is just so annoying.”
In November 2011, the woman was knocked unconscious when two youths in hoodies stole £500 from the safe.
She was pushed back and hit her head on a step.
The woman said: “I never go down on my own at night. I always go with someone else.
“During the day seemed different, you think it would be safe. The police have been really good and they will catch up with him.”
Christina Latham, who owns nearby Light Touches said: “ I think the club was targeted. They must have been watching.”
Police are appealing for help to track down the man. He is described as being thin, wearing a black woolly hat, black jacket and black leather gloves.
Anyone with information should call detectives via the non-emergency 101 number.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 19 May 2013
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Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
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