SHOPPERS beware. Hang onto your bags and keep your purses out of sight.

This goes especially to trusting pensioners who yet again need to be made aware of the increase in theft in the busy festive build-up.

As I walk around town I see plenty with their shopping bags wide open or who put their purses down while they look around.

Purse snatching is rife all year round, but it obviously gets worse now, and the poor old senior citizens are most vulnerable.

During the year I witnessed the result of thefts on two old ladies on consecutive days.

The victims who discovered their loss were devastated.

I hope everyone who goes out with the intention to rob them of their meagre pensions this year has a rotten Christmas.