WELL-known Island restaurateur Rudee How is devastated following the theft of her handbag containing irreplaceable personal items, jewellery and photographs of her husband Allan, who died two years ago.

She believes she accidentally left her bag on the pavement outside her son Paul’s business in Lewis Street last night, but after realising her error shortly afterwards she returned to find the bag gone.

As well as the sentimental items, it contained more than £2,000 in takings from her Thai restaurant at the Weighbridge.

‘I can’t believe that my luck is this bad,’ she said this morning.

‘I can’t sleep, I can’t eat and I don’t know how I can work while it’s all missing.’ Mrs How and her son had popped into his business – Blueprint Signs – for a couple of minutes at about 7.30 pm on their way out to dinner.

On returning to the car, Mrs How dropped an earring and put her bag on the floor.

They drove off but when she realised what she had done he returned to the scene but the bag had already been taken.

Inside was the cash, Mrs How’s cheque books and cards and jewellery given to her by Allan worth about £5,000.