Police are hunting for a heartless thief who stole a wallet at a train station – from a dying man.
David Lovett suffered a massive heart attack on a station platform on his way home from a rock concert.
But as he lay dying, supported by two kind-hearted strangers, police believe they have CCTV images of a man rifling through the 66-year-old’s belongings and stealing his wallet – making it difficult for authorities to identify him.
David died at Hastings station in East Sussex on August 25, but it took police three days to inform his family because the thief stole all his identity documents.
Son Rich Lovett said: “It’s the lowest of the low.
“I’m very angry that someone has done this to my father when he was at death’s door.
“I know it was my father but even it had been another member of the public I would be extremely horrified and angry.”
David was seen slumping to the floor after struggling to breathe – with two women running to his aid and alerting staff.
While they tried to revive David, a man was caught on CCTV walking over and picking up the father’s wallet from the ground.
David, from Worthing, West Sussex, passed away at 10.30 pm – but his missing wallet meant that police could not identify him for three days.
Detectives eventually managed to track down his address from his train tickets, which he had bought online.
Rich, 39, said his father had travelled to the town to see Lipstick on Your Collar at the White Rock Theatre.
Rich said he wanted to thank the two women, railway staff and paramedics who helped his father at the scene.
He added: “Everybody that was there worked together, they all helped – they may never have known who he was but they all came to his aid.”
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Officers would like to speak to him after a 66-year-old man had his wallet stolen at Hasting station.
“The victim was suffering a cardiac arrest when his wallet was taken, however despite the best efforts of paramedics the man later passed away.
“The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 28 at approximately 10.23 pm.
“Officers would like to speak to the man pictured in the images because they believe he may have information which could help officers investigate.”
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