Christmas pickpockets are preying on seasonal shoppers in Basildon, sparking an urgent warning today from police.
They are telling shoppers in the town to be vigilant and keep their belongings close at hand after two shoppers were targeted.
Police said the alert was necessary after thieves truck twice in the same number of days in the town centre. One woman had her purse stolen from the shopping bag she had in her trolley in the Sainsbury's Savacentre in the Eastgate complex.
Various items, including keys and £250 in cash, were inside the purse.
The woman was unaware of the theft, which happened on Thursday.
The next day a mobile phone and cash worth £170 were taken from a shopper's pocket in a jostling incident.
This theft happened in the East Square shopping centre in East Walk as the shopper walked towards the multi-storey car park.
Leigh Day, of Basildon police service desk, said: "This is a common tactic and we would like to reiterate the message for people to be vigilant and wary."
Anyone with information about these thefts or anyone who has been the victim of a pickpocket should call Basildon police on 01268 532212.
Published Tuesday November 5, 2002
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