The gran of seven has finally received the sum – and a further £150 in compensation from TSB – but she remains wary of supermarkets and wants large businesses to help their customers.
The pensioner said: “Considering these large supermarkets, like Sainsbury’s and Morrisons as well, make so much money, they should do more to help prevent these things from happening.
“I think maybe they should have guards or certainly uniformed security moving around the supermarket because there needs to be more of a presence for sure. If there was just more of a presence, these criminals won’t feel so free to act like this.
“The guards or security staff could just wander around the shops to watch for this behaviour. They need to be seen so they should have a uniform and, preferably, guns but I’m not sure that’s allowed anymore.
“I think that would probably stop this sort of behaviour.
“I’m relieved to have my money back but I’m worried for other people.”
It took TSB around six weeks to reimburse Ms Sledmere, who had become resigned to never seeing the £1,000 again.
Ms Sledmere, who was targeted at the Tesco Superstore in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, said: “I am absolutely delighted they have refunded me. I am not a wealthy woman so it is very important.
“Initially, TSB was very casual about this. It didn’t feel like they valued me as a customer.
“I had reported the theft and it was just as if they didn’t care or understand it mattered to me.”
But TSB had a duty by law to do…
