Louis banks on customer service

Louis Butler

THIEVES who ransacked a 92-year-old war veteran’s home rocked his confidence in human nature.

But Louis Butler’s faith was restored when a worker from his bank jumped in her car and went to help him when he rang to cancel his stolen credit cards.

Former Lancaster bomber wireless operator Louis got up at his home off Thornham Lane, Royton, last Thursday morning to find drawers pulled out and his home’s back door open.

A file containing personal documents, bank cards and cash was missing — as was his laptop computer. Luckily he had left his treasured Distinguished Flying Medal - which he received personally from King George VI in 1943 - to one of his daughters for safekeeping.

When he rang the bank and explained what had happened to Victoria Mowbray she drove to his home, made several calls to cancel his various cards and called the police.

One of Louis’ three daughters, Angela Hobson of Grasscroft, said: “Dad was disorientated; what Victoria did shows there are some very kind people left in this world.”

Neighbours and regulars at his favourite pub, the Turk’s Head were horrified to hear his house had been burgled while he slept.

“Dad is well-known and very well liked,” said Angela. “It must have been obvious to whoever broke in that an old person lived there.”

Modest Victoria (43) who works as a customer service officer at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Shaw said: “I don’t think I have done anything special. When he rang, I didn’t even know if he was a customer of ours or not. He was saying he was a 92-year-old man and he had been robbed.

“I was worried there was no-one at home with him and I couldn’t have that on my mind, especially if he was in shock.

“When I got to his house I recognised him, and realised he had been a customer of the bank for a long time. There are some despicable people out there.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.