City centre crackdown on purse thieves

Over the last year, thirty arrests have been made in connection with the offence and plain clothed officers are now being specifically deployed in a further effort to prevent and detect the crime.

On Saturday a woman was arrested in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre by officers patrolling the shops. She has been charged and will appear before magistrates at a later date.

Police say the elderly are especially vulnerable to this type of crime.

Insp Kevin Pickles, of the City Ward Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “We are working hard with our partners across the city to identify and apprehend those people involved in purse dipping.

“Plain clothed Neighbourhood Policing Team officers are fully aware of the tactics used by purse dippers and will be using this knowledge to catch them in the act.

“Offenders will be arrested and potentially face a custodial sentence. We will make no distinction between those physically removing items and those acting as ‘look outs.’

“The older members of the community are often the most vulnerable to this type of offence, which is likely to be undertaken by the opportunist thief.”

While the City Ward NPT officers are making their patrols, they will be speaking to shoppers about crime prevention.

Insp Pickles added: “All I would ask is that the public don’t make it easy to become a victim. Always make sure you keep your bag closed, carrying it close to your side with the clasp facing towards you.

“However, in the event someone does take your bag, let it go. It is not worth getting hurt for its contents.

“Your safety is always more important than your property,” he added.