A sneak-thief, who turned up at a deaf friend's house after midnight claiming she needed a glass of water, walked out with the woman's purse then dumped it months later on the steps of the local police station.
Patricia Malcolm, 52, of Stanstead Road, Catford, South-East London pleaded guilty to stealing the purse and contents from the house in nearby William Booth Road, Anerley, (pictured) on September 16, last year.
Croydon Crown Court heard the 48 year-old victim only knew the defendant as 'P' and occasionally gave her cash.
Malcolm persuaded the victim's 14 year-old son to allow her in for a drink of water then went upstairs to use the toilet and entered her friend's bedroom.
Three minutes later she ran out of the room and fled the house with the purse, leaving the victim to explain what happened to her son with sign language.
Police identified Malcolm after a DNA test on the glass she drank from and the purse, still containing some bank cards, was found on the front steps of Penge Police Station on April 16.
She claims she left the purse where it could be found because she "felt guilty."
The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon - taking into account Malcolm has spent eleven days locked up on remand - conditionally discharged her for twelve months.
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