SHOPPERS have been urged to be on their guard for purse thieves in Ellesmere Port.
A spate of incidents have prompted police in the town to warn elderly women and lone women with children to be vigilant.
Police have made several arrests in the past month.
On July 4, Krystyna Goral, 18, from Mond Street, Bradford, pleaded guilty to handling a mobile phone which was stolen during the theft from a handbag on July 3 from Morrisons in the town.
Sgt Kevin Green at Blacon custody suite in Chester said: “There are two main tactics – one were the victim will be approached and distracted by an individual or engaged in conversation, while another removes the victim’s handbag from the trolley. The second tactic is a more basic theft while the trolley is unattended or while the victim is loading shopping into the car.”
He reminded shoppers to conceal their handbags and purses, and not to leave them on show or unattended.
Sgt Green also urged people to conceal PINs at the point of sale, and to be cautious if approached.
Last week the Pioneer reported more than £2,000 was spent in Morrisons using one stolen card after a card was stolen on July 5. The victim had shopped at the store and was returning to her car when she was stopped by another woman who engaged her in conversation.
Another woman stole her purse from her car while they were talking.
Anyone with any information on distraction thefts should call Cheshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
