Police warning after spate of purses stolen from Royston town centre shoppers

Police have issued a warning to people visiting Royston town centre, after a number of reports of purse thefts while people were out shopping over the last month.

There were incidents reported to police both yesterday and Sunday, and on another occasion at the end of last month.

In all of the incidents, the purses were removed from the victims’ bags while they were out shopping.

Between 10.30am and 10.40am yesterday, a victim was approached from behind by an offender who opened her bag and removed her purse in the High Street branch of Boots.

On Sunday, between 10.20am and 11am, a purse was removed from another victim’s bag which was hanging from a trolley in Morrisons in Baldock Street.

That incident mirrors another theft in the same supermarket which happened about a month earlier, between 11.30am and 11.55am on April 27.

PCSO Robyn Allen said: “Please be vigilant when out shopping. A number of ways to keep your purse safe include wearing a security money belt or a bag that hangs across the shoulder with the opening side facing inwards towards the body.

“Keep cards and keys separate from your purse and do not write your pin number down.

“Please be vigilant and report anything suspicious to 101 or call 999 in an emergency.”