AN Ipswich man today blamed drug users for the theft of cash and a shopping bag from his elderly mother-in-law's home.

AN Ipswich man today blamed drug users for the theft of cash and a shopping bag from his elderly mother-in-law's home.

Emma Stokes, of Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich, had returned from shopping on Sunday when a woman entered her home and stole a bag and a purse.

Today her son-in-law Clive Lynch said he believed the culprit was a drug user who visits a crack house in the area on a regular basis.

He said: “I'm really annoyed that someone who is dealing drugs is allowed to live in the flats. The house has been busted before and all the pensioners that live in the flats know about it.”

Mr Lynch said drug users are regularly seen visiting one of the flats in the street.

He said the theft happened at about 2.30pm when 76-year-old Mrs Stokes had returned from shopping.

She had left a bag in the front room and popped out to put a mop away in a shed, leaving the door ajar, and when she returned there was a teenager at the door with her arms folded who asked for change.

When Mrs Stokes refused to give her any the woman ran off. She later discovered her bag was missing and called police.

Mr Lynch said he was unimpressed with how quickly they arrived on scene and added: “The police prioritise everything. They didn't think a 76-year-old woman was a priority.

“I went round the estate trying to find a police officer and in the end I went down to the police station.

“If there isn't a risk to anyone's life or an actual crime going on at the time they are not interested.”

Chief Inspector Alan Caton said police do give top priority to emergencies where there is a threat to life or threat of harm.

He added: “In this particular case police were called an hour after the incident had occurred. Officers attended the property within an hour of the initial call being made and scenes of crime officers attended a short while later to gather any relevant forensic evidence.”

The woman seen near the address at the time of the incident is described as white, aged 18 to 19, of large build, about 5ft 5in tall and with short, black hair to just below her ears.

She had a pale complexion and was wearing dark trousers or jeans and a long sleeved, pale blue jacket with dark blue stripes on the lower arms.

Anyone who saw a woman matching this description should call Pc Vicky Mitchell at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.