Warning following spate of handbag thefts

POLICE are urging members of the public to be vigilant following a series of handbag thefts from supermarkets in Peterborough.

Over the last month there has been seven incidents of women having their handbags stolen across the city, however, since Monday, July 17, there have been three similar instances.

On Monday, a woman in her 40s was in Tesco in Staniland Way, Werrington, when she had her handbag stolen. She had paid for her shopping and left the store to return her trolley when she noticed her handbag had been taken.

On Wednesday (July 19) between 11am and 11.15am a woman in her 70s was at the Bretton Centre retail park when her handbag was taken. She left her car with her handbag hung over her shoulder and entered Poundland. It was when she got to the tills that she noticed her bag was missing.

Also on Wednesday, between 4.50pm and 5.20pm, a woman in her 50s was in Morrisons supermarket in Lincoln Road when her handbag was taken from her trolley while she was looking at products.

Members of the public are being asked to be vigilant and report any information about these crimes to police by calling 101 or reporting information online via www.contactcambspolice.uk/report.

In order to keep your personal belongings safe, you can take a few simple precautionary measures:

Keep your bag closed, secure and in sight at all times

While walking around, carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards

Where possible, don’t put everything in your bag. For example, keep your keys and mobile phone in a zipped jacket pocket

Other advice can be found on the force website here.