A THIEF snatched a woman’s handbag while she was loading her car with shopping.

Police said the victim was in Tesco’s car park at Hythe, Colchester, and filling up the car when a man went up to her and asked for the time.

He then pushed her aside and grabbed her handbag from the car, before getting into the passenger side of a white Peugeot van and driving off.

Colchester police have just released details of the theft, which happened at 10.30pm on November 24.

Anyone with information should contact PC Craig Scott at Ipswich Road police station on 0300 333 4444.