Police today urged shoppers to be on their guard after a spate of thefts from handbags.
Thieves unzipped a woman's bag at the Alldays store, in Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, on Saturday and stole a wallet containing £80.
Hours later, a 72-year-old woman had £160 and credit cards taken while shopping at Asda, in Miles Gray Road, Basildon.
That evening, a woman enjoying a night out at the Festival Leisure Park, had £50 taken from her handbag.
Angela Crossland, of Basildon Police, warned: "We appear to have a group of thieves targeting this type of crime."
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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