SHOPPERS are to be given free bells for their handbags and purses on Tuesday in a bid to combat pickpockets.
Police advised shoppers to be extra vigilant after two purses were snatched in Harborough town centre in as many days.
Mulberry HandbagsPolice believe the two thefts are linked. They happened last Thursday and Friday.
In the first incident, a female shopper was in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop on The Square at about 11am when a woman approached her and held up a pair of trousers to her face.
The suspect said she could not read the price tag and asked the shopper to help - but while the trousers obscured her view, another person stole the victim's purse from a shopping trolley. The black purse contained [pounds sterling]30 in cash and a Barclays cash card.
One of the two women suspects was aged in her 40s and had an eastern European appearance. She had short, dark hair and was wearing a beige coat.
The second incident happened the day after. A woman went to pay for goods in a town centre shop at about 1.15pm and realised her purse had been taken.
Coach Tote Bag Handbagsembroidered patches
It contained [pounds sterling]100 and an Alliance and Leicester debit card. It was later found in the Market Hall toilets.
Insp Mick Norman, head of Harborough police, said: "We would urge people to be extremely vigilant especially as one of these incidents involved more than one person and the victim was distracted."
Anyone with information can call PC 4390 Cathy Keen on 0116 2222222.
The bells will be given out by Harborough District Community Safety Partnership on The Square between 9am and midday. The campaign aims to make people aware of where their purse is at all times.
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