Bag snatchers prey on elderly women in Accrington

12:27pm Wednesday 20th June 2012 in Hyndburn Photograph of the Author By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

BAG snatchers are preying on elderly women in the Accrington town centre.

In the last three months, there have been 12 reports of purse thefts from vulnerable pensioners while they have been shopping in Broadway, police said.

Town centre police have now secured funding for 100 purse alarms to be given out to shoppers.

Police Community Support Officer Paul Crossland said: “We have had a lot of complaints from elderly residents that they have had their purses stolen while out shopping in Accrington.

“In the last three months the number of complaints has reached more than double figures.

“This sort of crime is really upsetting to the individual as it is a violation of their personal belongings.

“We are going to be distributing these new pu-rse alarms, to make it harder for thieves to be able to help themselves.

“The neighbourhood pol-icing team is also mon-itoring the situation with extra patrols.”

Asda Accrington and Age Concern have paid for the alarms.

They are fixed to the shopper’s purse and bag and are triggered when the purse is removed forcibly.

Officers will give out the alarms and fix them to residents’ bags on July 6.

Homewise and Lancashire Fire and Rescue will also be at Asda car park, in Hyndburn Road from noon to offer safety advice.

Anyone over the age of 55 can collect a free alarm.

For more information you can call PCSO Cross-land on the number01254 353103.

Comments (8)

5:15pm Wed 20 Jun 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth
Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth Michael@ClitheroeSince58

5:23pm Wed 20 Jun 12

sen c bl says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth
No please don't, not America!!!

I'm confident we can manage on our own.
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth[/p][/quote]No please don't, not America!!! I'm confident we can manage on our own. sen c bl

7:46pm Wed 20 Jun 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

sen c bl wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin

ce58 wrote:
Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth
No please don't, not America!!!

I'm confident we can manage on our own.
OK so the ideas good, we just need our own drones :)
[quote][p][bold]sen c bl[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth[/p][/quote]No please don't, not America!!! I'm confident we can manage on our own.[/p][/quote]OK so the ideas good, we just need our own drones :) Michael@ClitheroeSince58

8:07pm Wed 20 Jun 12

sen c bl says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
sen c bl wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin


ce58 wrote:
Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth
No please don't, not America!!!

I'm confident we can manage on our own.
OK so the ideas good, we just need our own drones :)
Yes, these closed circuit monitoring are excellent, and public vigilance, can't be better!!!
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]sen c bl[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth[/p][/quote]No please don't, not America!!! I'm confident we can manage on our own.[/p][/quote]OK so the ideas good, we just need our own drones :)[/p][/quote]Yes, these closed circuit monitoring are excellent, and public vigilance, can't be better!!! sen c bl

11:37am Fri 22 Jun 12

Cheese gnome says...

Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought.........
Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought......... Cheese gnome

6:33pm Sun 24 Jun 12

Elegant1 says...

Cheese gnome wrote:
Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought.........
A bit cynical don't you think Gnome? It may be a coincidence, but I would guess that is what it is, unless you are keeping your proof under your Busshel as they say. It doesn't seem to me likely that any bag-snatcher would hang around the area to long.
[quote][p][bold]Cheese gnome[/bold] wrote: Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought.........[/p][/quote]A bit cynical don't you think Gnome? It may be a coincidence, but I would guess that is what it is, unless you are keeping your proof under your Busshel as they say. It doesn't seem to me likely that any bag-snatcher would hang around the area to long. Elegant1

10:20pm Sun 24 Jun 12

maz;0) says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth
Well said!
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: Could we not borrow a few drones from America and blow this scum of the face of the Earth[/p][/quote]Well said! maz;0)

4:07pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Cheese gnome says...

Elegant1 wrote:
Cheese gnome wrote:
Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought.........
A bit cynical don't you think Gnome? It may be a coincidence, but I would guess that is what it is, unless you are keeping your proof under your Busshel as they say. It doesn't seem to me likely that any bag-snatcher would hang around the area to long.
Do you live in Accrington? Have you seen the increase in heroin users hanging round? Have you been a victim to a heroin addict looking for their next fix?
Fact is, the drug is evil, it takes over. Maundy amongst other 'help' drug addicts, causing them to be around the town centre, selling their meth on, snatching nags. Please dont try and tell me heroin users dont do these things!
[quote][p][bold]Elegant1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Cheese gnome[/bold] wrote: Funny isn't it, maundy shops taking over and purse snatching going up. Who would have thought.........[/p][/quote]A bit cynical don't you think Gnome? It may be a coincidence, but I would guess that is what it is, unless you are keeping your proof under your Busshel as they say. It doesn't seem to me likely that any bag-snatcher would hang around the area to long.[/p][/quote]Do you live in Accrington? Have you seen the increase in heroin users hanging round? Have you been a victim to a heroin addict looking for their next fix? Fact is, the drug is evil, it takes over. Maundy amongst other 'help' drug addicts, causing them to be around the town centre, selling their meth on, snatching nags. Please dont try and tell me heroin users dont do these things! Cheese gnome

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