Last minute Christmas shoppers must be on red alert to avoid falling victim to gangs of picket pockets who prey on mums and pensioners.

Police today fired out a last minute warning after it was revealed up to EIGHT people a day had been targeted in Basildon town centre during the past week.

Town centre beat bobby, PC Nicky Leeder <OK>, said: "It's a bad situation, people are being hit on a daily basis.

"A few days ago thieves struck seven times within an hour in one shop, it's getting out of control."

More in today's Echo