Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Police are urging shoppers to be vigilant following four incidents where purses were stolen from handbags over the weekend.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to all four thefts and are also issuing simple crime reduction advice to help shoppers reduce their chances of becoming a victim.

Peter Bennett, Maidenhead’s crime reduction advisor, said: “With more shoppers than normal in the town centre during the run up to Christmas we have noticed an increase in pickpocket offences and opportunist thefts.

“We are urging everyone to make sure that their shopping bags and handbags are closed and secure.

“The thieves will be looking to steal purses and wallets and if they are really lucky credit card and pin number details – please never keep theses two items together.

“Don’t let yourself become a target. Always keep your handbag closed and if possible keep a hand on it. Never have your handbag or purse resting on top of an open shopping bag.

“It is also important people remain aware of their surroundings and keep their property secure.”

Other advice includes ensuring purses are tucked away at the bottom of handbags, wearing the handbag strap across your body with the openings facing inwards and securing a mini-bell to the purse so that it alerts the owner if it is being tampered with.

The four Maidenhead thefts all happened on Saturday (9/12) afternoon.

The first was in the Birthdays store in the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead, between 1pm and 1.30pm, where a purse containing £40 and a pension book was taken from an 80-year-old woman’s handbag.

The second was at the Card Factory, in Nicholson’s Walk, between 2pm and 2.15pm, where a purse containing credit cards, other financial documents and £2, was stolen from a 54-year-old woman’s handbag.

The next one took place in the Shaw Charity shop, in the High Street, between 2.15pm and 2.45pm, where a purse containing £300 and cash cards were taken from an 85-year-old woman’s bag.

The final incident happened at the Hall of Cards, in the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead between 3pm on Saturday on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Although, this is a long time period, the 78-year-old victim last saw the purse in this shop but did not notice it was missing until the following day. The purse contained £200 and cash and store cards.

PC Ben Dyke, from the Maidenhead town centre unit, who is investigating these incidents, said: “I would appeal for anyone with any information about these incidents to contact me urgently.

“It is important that we catch the offender or offenders and are able to bring them to justice.”

Anyone with any information should contact PC Dyke via 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead