The intruders stole savings she had gathered up for her funeral, money for home heating oil and personal papers belonging to her late husband. While we extend our sympathy to Mrs Baxter, few of us will be shocked, as crimes like these against the elderly have tragically become too common.

It is heartening that the community is rallying round the pensioner in her hour of need, demonstrating once more that such incidents are the work of a tiny, despicable minority. The next stage is to assist the police in their efforts to catch the culprits, yet it must be recognised that such offences are notoriously difficult to investigate.

In the longer term our society must ask how we have spawned individuals who are prepared to prey on the vulnerable in this way?

There are many factors in play – the breakdown of family structures, the erosion of religious influence and the apparent failure of our criminal justice system to deliver the type of punishment that deters would-be offenders. Until these wider issues are resolved, the community will remain at the mercy of the thugs.