Appeal for missing purse containing sentimental items

Leah Holt (20), of Slater Avenue, believes her black River Island purse was stolen as she walked from Pets at Home, in Active Way, to Superdrug, in the town centre, on Saturday afternoon.

It contained around £60 in notes, £10 in change, and a variety of cards, including her debit card and provisional driving licence. But more importantly. for Leah, it had around six receipts that reminded her of her granddad Peter, who died in November 2013, and a Union Jack badge, which had belonged to her Uncle Philip, who died in June 2010.

Leah’s mum Julie said: “She is not bothered about the money, she knows that has gone, but it is the personal things that matter. They don’t mean anything to anybody else, and she has been very very upset.”

Leah had been out with her boyfriend Jacob when the incident occurred between 3pm to 3-30pm.

She rang her mum once she realised what had happened, and she was advised to go to Burnley Police Station.

But according to Julie, the staff at the station did not take any details from her distressed daughter.

Lancashire Police said the incident may have been dealt with in line with lost property procedures.

They said: “If you have lost some property it may be that Lancashire Constabulary is not best placed to help re-unite you with your possession/s.

“For instance, if you lost your property in any of the following locations you should contact the manager of the premises who should operate their own lost and found property: licence premises (pubs, nightclubs), private premises (house, hotel, hostel), taxi’s, public transport (trains, buses, trams), business premises (shops, supermarkets), educational premises (schools, universities, colleges).

“Lancashire Constabulary does not take reports for items lost in these locations.”

For more information visit www.lancashire.police.uk/help-and-advice/help-and-advice2/lost-and-found-property