David Perry, also known as the Puppet Man, was robbed while street performing outside Lloyds bank in Gentleman’s Walk. The incident took place at around 2.30pm when two young men approached Perry under the guise of asking for directions to the castle. While Perry was distracted, one of the men swiped his box full of change, which amounted to around £30, and batteries for his heater. Joe Sylvester, who owns Joe’s Pet Foods at Norwich Market, expressed his disappointment with the incident, stating that they considered Perry a great friend and tried to look out for him. He assured Perry that they would give him the cash to replace what was stolen.
Despite the incident not being reported to the Norfolk police, another trader reported seeing two police officers talking to Perry outside of Lloyds after the robbery. According to the report, Perry headed home feeling disheartened after the theft. The Puppet Man, who is believed to be around 80 years old, also lives in Great Yarmouth and busks in the coastal town. It was noted that this was not the first time Perry has faced trouble in the streets, having been attacked in Great Yarmouth in 2010 and had water poured over his stereo by a frustrated shop owner in 2015. Yet, the shop owner later apologized and replaced the stereo.
The incident has raised concern for Perry’s safety and well-being, as he is considered to be quite vulnerable. Local traders express their care and friendship towards him, aiming to look out for him and mitigate the negative impact of such events. Despite the unfortunate incident, the traders seek to support and reassure Perry to aid in recovering from the disheartening experience. Moreover, the Puppet Man was not in his usual spot in the city center after the incident, indicating the emotional impact it had on him. While Perry believes that the frustration of his situation has been growing, the support and vigilance of the local community are pivotal in navigating such adversity.
