Police warning after five elderly woman pick pocketed by gang of criminals in the street

Three women aged over 60 were targeted as they walked along the High Street in Wickford between 10am and noon on Monday.

They all had their purses stolen from their handbags.

In most cases, the purses had cash and cards inside.

Two other women, also understood to be pensioners, were targeted by the pickpockets as they made their way along the High Street in Billericay last Wednesday.

Chief Insp Sam Smith, district commander for Basildon, said she believed that the same group of people were thought to be carrying out the thefts.

She urged residents to make sure that they take care when visiting the shops.

She said: “We have been experiencing ‘street dippings’ in Wickford and Billericay High Streets at lunchtimes over recent days.

“The people who are doing this have a particular way of doing it so their victims don’t realise what it going on until it is too late.

“They brush into you and come up close to you but you won’t actually feel anything other than the bump into you.

“You won’t feel the purse being stolen because of the speed they dip into the handbag.

“A lot of the time they notice that a handbag is open - they identify an opportunity and go for it.”

She urged people, particularly elderly women, to be cautious and to take extra safety precautions.

She said: “You need to ensure that you zip your handbag up completely - do not just leave it open as you walk around.

“Make sure that you place your purse at the bottom of the bag rather than the top.

“I would also ask people to report any individuals that you see behaving in a suspicious manner.

“We need to prevent this from happening again.”

So far, no arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.

Mrs Smith said that PCSOs are carrying out extra patrols and holding more beat surgeries in response to the thefts.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 5555111.