Thieves steal Christmas presents from disabled Melbourne woman

Heartless thieves stole a 63-year-old Melbourne woman's Christmas presents from her wheelchair as she shopped.

Karen Pipe had just returned home from Eastland Shopping Centre where she had spent almost $500 of her Disability Support Pension on Christmas gifts when she noticed four bags of presents had been stolen from the back of her wheelchair.

Ms Pipe, who has limited speech or physical moment due to a stroke suffered several years ago, told her family she is upset and angry over the theft and feels like she has been preyed upon as a soft target.

"It's a very low act ... she can't defend herself and had she known what was happening she'd be scared," Ms Pipe's brother John Pipe said.

Ms Pipe said while she cannot afford to replace the gifts, the cruel attack will not stop her from continuing her regular Monday-morning shopping trip.