TV star's mum's ring stolen off finger

Louise Wallace's message to the thief: 'I hope you can live with yourself.' Photo / Supplied

The 87-year-old mother of television star Louise Wallace has had a precious diamond ring stolen off her finger at her Auckland rest home.

And Wallace has issued a personal message to the culprit, whom she has labelled "the lowest of the low".

Her mother, Leona Hooper, lives in a rest home in the eastern suburbs, where the ring was stolen at the weekend.

Former Weakest Link presenter Wallace, who has also worked as a journalist and actress, was reluctant to give away too many details but said an investigation was under way and it was likely police would be involved.

"To the low-life who wrenched my 87-year-old mother's gold and diamond ring off her arthritic finger at her rest home, I hope you can live with yourself," she said.

"Like taking candy from a baby, you waited till the opportunity came and stole the last gift my father ever gave her. No doubt you've done this before. Disgusting."

Wallace said the standard of care at the rest home, which she did not want to name, had been "outstanding".

She said that the theft had resulted in unfair suspicion being cast on honest staff.

"What annoys me most are two things: that honest, hard-working caregivers who do a job not many are suited for are being tarnished by this one act of dishonesty.

"[And] that elderly people, particularly the ones who are unwell, are as vulnerable as children and there are creeps just waiting to take advantage of them."

Wallace contacted Sideswipe columnist Ana Samways to send a blunt message to the thief.

"I wanted to send a personal and public message to this person that they are the lowest of the low," she said.

"Whoever the culprit is, they have to look at themselves in the mirror."

Last year Wallace hit the headlines when she held a garage sale at Mrs Hooper's $4.7 million home in Paritai Drive.

Sale items included imported tableware, a baby grand piano, ornaments, crystal and silverware, paintings, American costume jewellery and vintage clothing and hats.