Suffolk residents urged to keep personal belongings safe after distraction thefts at supermarkets in Ipswich and Kesgrave
Suffolk residents are being reminded to keep personal possessions secure when out shopping after a number of distraction thefts at supermarkets at the weekend.
Police are appealing for information following the purse thefts - one of the incidents happened on Saturday at Ipswich's Felixstowe Road Sainsbury's store between 12.20pm and 1.30pm.
Officers said a woman in her 50s was shopping in the store and her Mulberry purse, which contained cash and cards, was stolen from her rucksack that was hanging on the trolley hook.
On the same day, a purse belonging to a woman in her 60s who had been shopping at Tesco at Copdock Interchange between 11.15am and 12.15pm was taken from her bag, which was also hung on the trolley hook. Her purse also contained cash and cards.
And in a third incident, which happened shortly before 4pm on the same day, a woman in her 60s was shopping at Tesco in Kesgrave's Ropes Drive.
At some point, her purse, containing cash and cards, was stolen from her handbag.
Police are sharing the following crime prevention advice:
- Keep your bag closed and close to you at all times, if possible with the opening towards your body
- Close your purse and put it away before you leave the till
- Try not to overload yourself with bags and coats
- Avoid carrying your purse or wallet in a back trouser pocket
- Keep cash secure and out of sight
- Do not leave your handbag, pushchair or shopping trolley unattended for any length of time
Further crime prevention advice is available to view and download by visiting http://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-z.
Anyone with information about these incidents should contact the Crime Coordination Centre, quoting the relevant crime reference numbers:
- 37/2531/21 Sainsburys Felixstowe Road, Ipswich
- 37/2522/21 Tesco Copdock Interchange
- SC-16012021-240 Tesco Ropes Drive, Kesgrave
To contact police with information about these incidents, call 101 or email Donna.Jackson@suffolk.police.uk.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form.
To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here
Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk
Read more: All the latest news from Ipswich
Read more: All the latest news from Kesgrave
