Yarmouth: call to protect purses
ELDERLY women shoppers have been given another “protect your purses” warning by police after a spate of snatches continued despite warnings about a roving gang of criminals preying on off-guard customers.
ELDERLY women shoppers have been given another “protect your purses” warning by police after a spate of snatches continued despite warnings about a roving gang of criminals preying on off-guard customers.
Last week police alerted shoppers to the wave of thefts county-wide including a dozen in the Cromer and Sheringham area.
But despite the warning, careless shoppers are still falling victim to the gangs, believed to be innocent-looking eastern European women with children and pushchairs.
One woman at Sheringham had her purse taken in a shop, after laying it briefly on a counter, and her bank card used when the PIN number stored near it was also discovered by the thieves.
Another had a purse snatched after leaving it in an unlocked car at a caravan park in East Runton.
Chief Insp Steve Jones said such crimes were preventable and were taking officers away from crimes over which there was less control.
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He urged shoppers, once again, to ensure their handbags were done up, worn around the front rather than side, and that PIN numbers were memorised.
“If elderly people are struggling with that they can get help from their bank in sorting out a more memorable one,” he added.
The gang targeted Yarmouth and Norwich as well as North Norfolk at the weekend. He asked people to be on their guard, even in the local low-crime area. Anyone who sees anything suspicious should call the police on 0845 456 4567, but if they see a crime in progress should dial 999.
