POLICE are warning shop staff and customers to be on their guard against purse thieves in a town centre.
Cleveland Police said there have been more than a dozen thefts in Redcar, in the past month.
They say the purse snatches are carried out by "mean, opportunist thieves".
A police spokesman said: "Pensioners in charity shops browsing for bargains have been particularly targeted and shops have been asked to be a bit more vigilant."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article