Player mugged after winning bingo

Phyllis May Barry, 78, who had just won £80 was mugged after playing at her local bingo club in Cardiff on Sunday night. She had been playing bingo and was on her way to the bus stop when the theft happened at around 11.10pm. The two heartless attackers fled the scene with her handbag, containing £150, her bus pass, glasses, cigarettes and family photos.

Mrs Barry said: “I was just coming out of the club and crossed over the road when I saw two men who I thought were running for the bus. “I was rushing for the bus so I thought they were doing the same as me. But then one shoved me over and took my handbag; the next thing I knew it was gone. I’m feeling shook up and aching all over from where I fell down. I had just won £80 on the bingo but I had about £150 on me altogether. They took my bag which had my purse, photos, bus pass, glasses and cigarettes. I’ve had to have my locks changed on my door as well because my keys were in my bag. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before; it was quite scary.”

The mother of three and grandmother of five has been playing bingo at the club for 25 years and in all that time she has never had any problems. She said she doesn’t believe the theft was linked to the fact she had just won money at the bingo but her son Brian disagrees. He said: “I’ve got a feeling somebody at the club knew about it because it’s too much of a coincidence that she won the money and then this happened straight after.”

Two men had been arrested in connection with the incident. The males are described as wearing dark clothing and possibly in their twenties.

The robbery occurred at the junction of British Legion Drive and Llanrumney Avenue.

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