Community raises 1,000 to replace Sunderland postwoman's bike stolen by thieves on delivery round

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A Sunderland postwoman who had her bike stolen as she delivered mail during the coronavirus pandemic stolen has been left overjoyed after the community raised more than £1,000 to buy her new one.

Pamela Maltas, 58, has worked for the Royal Mail for 35 years and over the last eight weeks has seen her role become an even more vital lifeline during lockdown.

In a bid to ensure social distancing Pam had been using her electric bike to get around, rather than share the postal van with her colleagues.

But earlier this month thieves stole her bike whilst she was delivering to homes on the corner of Granville Street and Hylton Road in Sunderland.

The theft happened on Wednesday, May 6 at around 2.45pm, with Pam leaving it locked to a lamppost for just a matter of minutes before it was taken.

The electric bike is worth £1,000 and had been bought in September 2019 through the Royal Mail’s cycle to work scheme, meaning that Pam is still having to pay for a bike she no longer has.

Following theft Pam spoke of her frustration that people were could do such things while others were working on the frontline during the pandemic.

Pam said: “I am putting myself at risk delivering mail and this has happened.

“It has been quite difficult for us (post workers) during this hard time and having to social distance, so I was really upset.”

In the days that followed the theft, Pam’s daughter Liam Maltas set up a Just Giving Page which aimed to raise £900 to buy Pam a new bike.

Now thanks to the support of the community, the page has raised £1,062.

And the donations mean the world to Pam who has spent the last few weeks having to walk on her delivery rounds.

Pam, from the Ford Estate, said: “It is lovely and means I can get a new bike.

“It has been wonderful, people have been so generous.

“I am bit shocked by it all.”

Any additional donations will now be used to pay for a new lock, chain and side bags.

To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... =XvraZd43X" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;