Theft and robbery in Pangbourne may be linked

Police investigate two incidents in same area of Pangbourne invoving handbag thefts this week

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to two incidents in which handbags were stolen in the same area of Pangbourne this week.

The first incident, a theft, happened at around 5pm on Saturday (14), in the car park of the Co-op, in The Square.

The victim, a 47-year-old woman from Tilehurst, was pushing her trolley along when her handbag was stolen.

The second incident is a robbery which happened in the same location at around 3pm on Monday (16).

A 78-year-old woman from Whitchurch was walking through the car park when a man grabbed the strap of her handbag and pulled it causing her to fall over.

He continued to pull at the strap until the victim, who suffered a bruised shoulder in the incident, had to let go.

Police are keeping an open mind about whether the two incidents are linked.

Anyone with any information about either incident should contact case investigator Natasha Hurst via the 24-hour Enquiry Centre on 101 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.