Two brothers have been charged with mugging a pensioner at a cash point on Christmas Day as kindhearted strangers have launched a fundraising page to help the elderly victim.
Shocking CCTV images showed the moment the two hooded men targeted an 89-year-old man outside Sainsbury’s on Greenwood Avenue in Hull, East Yorkshire.
Jon Barrett, 29, and Scott Barrett, 31, both of Knightscourt, Orchard Park, have been charged with theft.
Police are searching for these two hooded thieves who targeted an elderly man on Christmas Day
The pair are alleged to have swiped cash from the victim before riding away from the scene on bicycles.
They were apprehended after Humberside Police issued a widespread appeal following the incident, which happened at 9.30am on Christmas morning.
The Barretts will appear before Hull Magistrates Court this morning [December 29] where they are expected to enter pleas.
The victim was left uninjured but shaken by the events, and footage of the crime has led to an outpouring of sympathy on social media.
Determined to help recoup the stolen money, Kirsty Harlington set up a GoFundMe page to appeal to the people of Hull and beyond to raise money for the OAP.
As the man pulled notes out the cash machine he was targeted by the two teenage boys
Kirsty wrote on the fundraising page: ‘So as we know on Christmas Day a very sad, dispirited crime happened to an 89 year old man.
‘He was approached by two despicable characters who took money from the poor man at the cash machine.
‘I am now raising funds for the man to help him get back on his feet and show him we are a community and not to be afraid.
‘Let’s make this man’s Christmas special.’
Kirsty set a target of £200 but already £470 has been amassed. To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/3nw8wh-89-year-old-man.
Earlier this week MailOnline reported how the frail pensioner had taken a number of notes out of the cash machine outside the supermarket on Greenwood Avenue, in Hull, around 9.30am when he was approached by the two teenagers on bikes.
They grabbed the money from him in broad daylight before riding off along 26th Avenue.
The man, who was on a mobility scooter, was left shaken but not injured during the incident.
One of the suspects was wearing dark blue clothing and riding a distinctive lime green mountain bike.
The other was wearing a khaki green coat and blue jogging bottoms and riding a silver mountain bike.
Police are hunting for these teenagers who targeted a frail pensioner on Christmas Day