PRESTWICH and Whitefield suffered a mini-crime spree with handbag snatchers and bogus callers targeting elderly victims over the weekend.

At 2.30pm on Friday, an 86-year-old woman in Kingswood Road, Prestwich, answered her door to a couple who claimed they were charity collectors from a nearby church.

The man and woman were allowed into the property and they searched the lounge area before making off with a handbag containing a small amount of cash.

Half an hour later, police were called to a house in Malton Close, Whitefield, after a 70-year-old lady woke to find two people searching her home.

When challenged, the intruders claimed they were looking for rats.

Earlier that morning an 80-year-old woman needed hospital treatment for a hand injury when she was pushed to the ground during a handbag snatch.

The incident happened at 10.45am in The Crescent at Prestwich.

And at 5.40pm on Saturday, this time in Gardener Road, also Prestwich, a 72-year-old woman was also targeted by a handbag snatcher.

In all cases only small amounts of money were taken by the thieves.

Whitefield CID are investigating all the incidents. Anyone with information about the crimes can contact detectives on 856 8248.