CRIMEWAVE

Published on 5th July 2007 in News

by Roxy Winterborne

Police are examining CCTV footage this week after three shoppers, including a pensioner, were targeted by thieves in the space of an hour.

Cash, jewellery and keys were among the items stolen during incidents which all occurred around lunchtime on Sunday in Tesco and Netto in Goole.

A fourth theft was reported at the Tudor Grill restaurant on Pasture Road.

The first victim was a 22-year-old woman who had her purse stolen from her handbag while shopping in Netto, between 11.15am and 11.30am.

The woman, who had hung her handbag on the back of her pushchair, was near the fridges when another woman is said to have pushed in between the fridges and the pushchair.

A man was also spotted near the pushchair.

When the woman came to pay for her shopping she found that her purse, which contained cash and a credit card, had been stolen.

The purse was brown, with a Louis Vuitton pattern and a tan edge.

The woman had light-brown, shoulder-length hair, and the man had mousey-coloured hair and was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

A spokesperson for Netto stores told the Goole Times that all stores had CCTV installed, not only for the protection of customers, but also for staff.

A similar incident occurred between 11.55am and midday, this time in Tesco on Boothferry Road.

An 82-year-old woman from Swinefleet was pushing her trolley when she was approached by a man who asked her to reach something from a display for him.

After doing so she realised her handbag had been stolen.

The handbag was black leather with a crocodile print on one side. It contained a green canvas purse and a bright red purse, as well as various cards, personal papers and car keys.

Almost immediately afterwards a thief or thieves targeted a 36-year-old shopper, also from Swinefleet, in the Tesco store

The woman's handbag was stolen when she momentarily took her eyes off her trolley.

And between 12.05pm and 12.20pm, a waitress had her bag stolen from the back of the Tudor Grill restaurant.

A man, woman and child went into the restaurant and asked to use the toilet and for a taxi to be ordered.

The child went towards the toilets and all three left before the taxi arrived.

It was after this that the waitress discovered her bag had been stolen.

The man was wearing a blue and white striped top and jeans.

The woman had long hair and the child was aged between 11 and 12, with short, light-brown hair.

Stolen were a cream, long-handled bag with a press-stud fastener, a black leather purse, personal papers, jewellery, cash, keys, a black and white umbrella and medical equipment for angina.

Sam Lane, spokesperson for Humberside Police, said: "As part of the ongoing investigations into these thefts, detectives are looking into whether they may be linked.

"Officers are currently viewing CCTV from the shops and taking statements from the victims in an attempt to identify possible suspects."

The handbag thefts has not been described as "persistent" but police are asking readers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.

Shoppers are reminded to keep their handbags closed and, if possible, on their person or hidden out of sight.

Diners should not leave bags on the back of chairs or leave them unattended, even for a few minutes; they should place them out of sight under the table.

If possible, the bag's fastener should be on the inside, towards the body, and bags should be worn over the shoulder and across the body.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents or who may know who is responsible is asked to contact Humberside Police on 0845 60 60 222 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.