Sponsored by
Gran issues purse theft warning
A grandmother has told how she became the latest victim of purse thieves across Preston.
Mary Hall, 69, from Wesham, was left stunned when police showed her CCTV of the thief smuggling her handbag under his coat as she sat behind him in a cafe in the Mall St George's shopping centre.
The thief later withdrew 300 from a cash machine before dumping the handbag in Preston Market toilets.
He left her rosary beads but stole her cash cards.
The grandmother-of-four backed the release of CCTV footage of the theft, to show how quickly it can happen, as Preston Police launch a crackdown on thieves who target handbags for purses and phones.
Mary said: "It leaves you feeling very vulnerable. I was very apprehensive about everything. When people in Preston go shopping like I did they need to be aware. I always look at myself before I go out to check I'm secure and I never take anything I don't need."
Officers say the city centre has seen a fall in all theft except for thefts from the person, including purse dippings, which have risen 2% over December and January. Police are hunting various suspects including:
:: an Asian man wearing dark rimmed glasses, aged 20 to 30.
:: a woman pushing a buggy who distracts shoppers by ramming the pram into their legs.
:: two women who frequent nightclubs and dump their victims' belongings in ladies toilets.
Insp Jill Halliwell said: "Other types of theft have reduced by up to 30%, but this is bucking the trend, day and night. Thieves use various tactics, befriending people, or jostling them so they are momentarily distracted.
"Others take advantage when people have left belongings unattended. We are having a crackdown on stolen property markets so it may be thieves are looking at other ways to steal things."
Hotspots include Fishergate, Church Street, Orchard Street and the bustling markets where people can be easily distracted.
Maureen Gormley, from Preston's PDSA charity shop, said: "Staff are upset when this kind of thing happens – it's unnerving. We tell customers to close their bag or to keep their purse off show."
Table-toppers with warning messages gave been placed in cafes and 2,000 free purse alarms handed out.
When the Evening Post joined police on a city centre walk, many people, including Ashton mum-of-two Rachel Fitken, were noted leaving belongings in vulnerable positions.
Rachel, who left her handbag on the back of her baby's pram, said: "It's good to be reminded. You can get distracted so easily, especially if you are sorting a baby out."
:: Darren Tong, 28, of Church Street, has been charged with stealing a mobile phone and cash from a handbag in a bar.
>> Vote in our latest web poll
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
