POLICE are advising shoppers to be extra vigilant after three women had their purses stolen from within their bags.

The pickpocket thefts happened on Friday, December 8, in Cirencester.

One happened in Waitrose. The purse was a Ralph Lauren-branded purse with several hundreds of pounds in cash and bank cards.

On the same day, between 1.30pm and 1.40pm, a woman was in New Look when her purse was stolen. It included £20 in cash, bank cards and her driving licence.

And around lunch time, another woman was the victim of theft while shopping in the British Heart Foundation charity shop in Dyer Street.

The woman believes her bag was unzipped. A black purse was stolen with approx £100 in cash, and bank cards.

Purse bells are sold at the police station for 26p, if shoppers are worried about their belongings.