A DISTRAUGHT mother-of-two has issued a warning to shoppers after crooks snatched her wallet, which contained sentimental items.

Tracey Rice, 30, of Holland-on- Sea, said she feels “pure hatred” for the perpetrators, after the incident happened while she was Christmas shopping in Clacton.

She said: “I had only gone to town to go to Woolworths but we decided to go to Card Factory because I needed some gift bags.

“I know my bag was done up because I was fiddling with the zip – two seconds later I realised it [the wallet] had gone.”

The pink Roxy Quiksilver brand wallet was in the over- the-shoulder style bag she was wearing.

As well as credit cards, her driving licence, it contained £50 cash, which Mrs Rice had intended to give to her 12-year-old daughter for Christmas.

She warned shoppers: “Don’t just think it is elderly people who are targeted – I never thought it would happen to me.

“Everybody is going to be a target, be extra careful.”

Insp Jason Scrivener, of Clacton police, said: “Shoppers really have to make sure they’re not making it easy for thieves to strike,” he added.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened shortly after 1pm on Thursday is urged to call Clacton police on 0300 333 4444.