POLICE are hunting sick thieves who stole a fatally injured pensioner’s purse.
And onlookers have also been blasted for taking pictures of the elderly woman’s body and posting it on social media.
The two acts of repulsive behaviour came just moments after the woman, 82, had been knocked down by a lorry on Leigh Road, Leigh.
Police are not officially commenting on the allegations about the picture postings and the theft, but a GMP source said that the latter had led to a delay in being able to identify the victim and contact relatives.
The source added: “Inquiries are being made into the possibility that her purse was taken after the collision and it has also been reported to the police that pictures were taken of the deceased in the aftermath. Given the nature of the injuries it would have been obvious that she had died.”
A Leigh Road resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There were several people standing around after the accident and to think that any of them were pilfering the lady’s pockets and taking photographs of her body is almost too disgusting to contemplate.
“It was a horribly distressing scene as it was without these ghouls adding to the tragedy.”
Another onlooker on Facebook said: “Young boys took something out of her bag when it first happened. I think it was her purse. I hope they get what is coming to them. They make me sick to pinch off that poor woman.”
Police say they attended the scene after the accident at 11.45am on Wednesday to find the woman was already dead.
She has now been traced and her relatives have been informed.
Formal identification was due to take place shortly.
Sgt Mark Thomas, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “I would like to thank the public for their assistance and helping us identify this woman’s family.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the serious collision investigation unit on 0161 856 4741.
England's  yesterday appealed to the public for information to track down a man who stole a woman's purse after she was fatally injured by a lorry. 

Police were alerted to the collision between the truck and the 82-year-old woman, in the town of , at approximately 1145  on Wednesday. The woman died at the scene, in what one nearby resident called "a horrible thing to have happened". Witnesses subsequently told police a man stole the victim's purse in the aftermath of the crash.

"This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence," said detective Sergeant Neil Lawless. "This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman.  I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road. There are a number of rumours circulating on social media at the moment but I would like to reassure residents we are doing all we can to find out who is responsible." Meanwhile, website ''Wigan Today'' has claimed witnesses and an unnamed Greater Manchester Police source informed it some nearby pedestrians took pictures of her body following the crash, although the official police statement does not directly address these claims.

Sergeant Lawless has asked members of the public to contact police with any information that may be relevant to the investigation. Greater Manchester Police describe the thief as white, of medium build, aged between 30 and 40, and six feet in height. The police force say he "had a dark brown beard, and wore a light grey hooded top with the hood pulled over his head, light blue jeans and black boot style training shoes."




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