PURSE-SNATCHERS ABOUT.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1917, Page 4

PURSE-SNATCHERS ABOUT.

SERIES OF LOSSES.

There is a clever purse-snatcher at work at tramway junctions in Wellington, says the Dominion, During the last fortnight some substantial amounts liave been lost by ladies from their bags, through their purses havinr>- been stolen, it is fashionable now for ladies to carry their purses either loose or in a special pocket within a handbag, and the thief has only to press the spring to open the bag, and the purse is exposed ioxdew, and then, selecting the proper opportunity amidst the bustle of a car arrival or departure, be “ dips in ” and “ gets away with the goods,” Three ladies' are lamenting serious losses in this way, and in case the loss has been discovered after leaving the busy Courtenay Place junction. A lady named Mrs E. Redstone lost a purse containing £11; another, Mrs Richards, lost her purse with a little money in it, but tlie thief had missed a roll of notes lying beside the purse. Mrs h ; Leese also bad her bag picked of its purse a few days ago at the same place. Not long ago a man left a wolllqaded brief bag for a moment on the pavement at the same stopping-place, and actually fold a friend to keep an eye on it. After three minutes’ absence be returned to find the bag missing and the friendly eye engaged in reading a newspaper. There are evidently some light-fingered people at work where the crowds arc thickest, and the public are warned to take the greatest care of their valuables, particularly when they are contained in a purse within a bag, for the latter is more a protection to the thief than to its owner.