A SPATE of purse thefts in Petersfield over Christmas has led police to urge shoppers to keep an eye on their personal possessions. They believe the thefts were being carried out by a female pickpocketing duo. Seven thefts were recorded in the town in December, the most recent occurring on Christmas Eve when an elderly woman was targeted in Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Rams Walk. Case officer Pc Sarah Kedge said the girls they suspected of the thefts were of Eastern European origin. But she said the thefts weren't exclusive to Petersfield, with similar offences happening in Alton and Fleet. The alleged perpetrators were caught on CCTV while in the Co-op in Alton High Street. One was described as being aged between 18 and 23 with long, fair hair, possibly with blonde highlights, tied back in a ponytail. She is seen here wearing dark clothes but has also been reported as wearing tracksuit-type trousers with a white stripe down the side. In the CCTV picture, the woman appears to be wearing an earpiece, which police say could be a bluetooth hands-free kit. Her accomplice was thought to be in her early 20s with shoulder length black hair and of smart appearance – well dressed and wearing slim-fitting jeans. Pc Kedge said: "I am sure that someone somewhere must recognise them." Police said that while the early thefts targeted senior citizens, often pushing shopping trolleys, more recent incidents have targeted mums with pushchairs. The technique appeared to be to follow the victim into a shop – charity shops, Boots, Woolworth, the Co-op, Sainsburys and High Street outlets have all been used – and to lift purses out of bags, withdrawing the contents and immediately disposing of the purse. Pc Kedge said that several purses had been found tucked behind books and into corners in charity shops. In a bid to combat the thefts, police are advising people to make sure their bags are zipped up and carried or safely concealed. They should not be slung over the handles of a shopping trolley or pushchair. They are appealing to people to come forward with information – as well as bringing in any empty purses found that could be used to provide forensic evidence. In addition, police community support officers have been handing out special tags that can be attached to a purse and to the inside of a bag so that anyone trying to lift the purse will find it impossible to do so without alerting the owner. The tags can be acquired from local charity shops, from support officers, or by visiting Petersfield police station. In Alton, six thefts were reported in the run-up to Christmas, and five on December 27 alone. People are urged to contact Pc 820 Sarah Kedge at Alton police station on 0845 0454545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
