DETECTIVES are investigating the possibility that criminals from Teesside are travelling to Darlington to commit vehicle crimes and robberies.

The link comes after a week of car crimes in a village to the east of Darlington, and a rise in the number of handbag snatches in the borough this year.

Two handbag snatches have been linked to Middlesbrough, and Teessiders have been convicted in the past of car crime in Middleton St George.

As reported yesterday, six vehicles were raided in the village on Monday night.

Two more vehicles were targeted between 10.30pm, on Tuesday, and 7.30am, on Wednesday.

The latest handbag snatch, in Darlington's Asda store car park, in Whinbush Way, on Wednesday, was committed by a man who escaped in a vehicle stolen from Middlesbrough.

The female victim was returning to her car with her shopping at about 1.30pm.

The thief snatched her handbag and ran to a Vauxhall Astra estate, registered E967XBU.