Officers investigating the theft of an elderly woman’s handbag in Christchurch are issuing a CCTV image of the suspect.
At around 4.25pm on Thursday 21 June 2018 a handbag belonging to a local woman aged in her 70s was stolen from her chair as she sat in Christchurch Library on High Street completing a jigsaw.
The victim noticed her bag was missing and she immediately informed library staff and then called the police.
She contacted her banks to cancel her cards.
Subsequent enquiries have revealed that two of the cards were used at the BP service station and Lidl on Somerford Road.
The stolen bag is described as a brown leather Radley bag and it contained bank cards, keys, a mobile phone, glasses and cash.
Police Constable Matt Leeding, of Christchurch police, said: “As part of my investigation I am issuing a CCTV image of the suspect in this case and I would appeal to anyone who recognises this man to please contact Dorset Police. I am also keen to locate the stolen handbag and would urge anyone who finds it to please not touch it but call us.
“I would like to remind people to ensure they keep their bags and possessions close to them to avoid becoming a victim of opportunist crime. Further crime prevention advice can be found at www.dorset.police.uk.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180096092. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
