Wigan fencing firm comes to the rescue after thieves target great-grandmother's garden

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A Wigan business came to the aid of a 96-year-old woman when callous thieves stole fence panels from her garden.

Relatives of great-grandmother Margaret Pendlebury were outraged when they realised the two panels had been taken from her home in Ince.

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The theft is thought to have happened overnight on either Sunday or Monday and was discovered by her family on Tuesday.

Her daughter Kathleen Jolley said: “I couldn’t believe it - how someone could be so desperate for two fence panels and how someone could steal off such a vulnerable member of their own community.

Margaret Pendlebury with her new fence panels and foodMargaret Pendlebury with her new fence panels and food
Margaret Pendlebury with her new fence panels and food | ugc

“I don’t like to think ill of people and it’s not in my mother’s nature or our family’s nature, because she has always been happy where she lives. It saddened us beyond words.”

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Mrs Pendlebury, who has lived in the house for 63 years, has dementia and her daughter says it would have been clear a vulnerable person lived there as she has grab rails on the wall.

She reported the theft to the police and Wigan Council, but she was worried the fence panels would not be replaced until the coronavirus lockdown ends and her mother would see the empty space they had left every day.

Mrs Jolley, who lives in Swinley, wrote about the theft on Facebook, with many people expressing their disgust at the theft.

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She said: “I didn’t put a negative post on, I just said I hoped it would prick someone’s conscience and they would return them.”

She was delighted when she was contacted by Rospal Fencing, based in Ince, with an offer to replace the panels for free.

The work was carried out on Wednesday and an employee even left food and a note for Mrs Pendlebury.

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Mrs Jolley said: “In these difficult times, we sometimes forget that our local businesses are suffering too.

“For Garry from Rospel to initially step in with their kind gesture to replace and secure mum’s fencing, followed up by the thoughtful gesture from Daryl, one of Rospal’s employees, of leaving a food parcel for mum restores faith in what’s good in our community.

“To all those at Rospal Fencing, thank you for caring, thank you for your kindness and thank you for helping our mum feel safe again.”

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While her mother has problems with her memory due to dementia, she said she was also delighted with the gesture.

“Yes, she has dementia and yes, she might forget, but in that moment, when she was initially quite sad and upset that someone could steal from her, when she saw the new fencing and then the shopping, the look on her face and the smile in that moment was worth a million pounds,” she added.

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