SHOPPERS in Worcester are being alerted after thieves stole two purses in the city - just two days after three other thefts.

In the first of the two thefts, on Thursday, June 21, an elderly woman in the restaurant at Mark & Spencer, High Street, realised her purse - containing £60 in cash and bank cards - was not in her open handbag. She had used it in the restaurant at 12.30pm, but had not felt or seen anything suspicious around her after this.

In the second incident - in Ethel Austin, Broad Street, between 2.30pm and 3pm the same day - a man and woman positioned themselves between the woman victim and her pushchair.

The victim said excuse me' to the pair and pushed past so that she could retrieve her pushchair before going to the till. She then realised her purse - containing £300 in £20 notes, £9 in coins and various bank and identification cards - had been taken out of the changing bag on the back of the pushchair.

The man who was near the victim's pushchair was in his early 30s, slim, around 5ft 6in tall with short black hair and was described as having a Mediterranean appearance. He was wearing a Gilet-style sleeveless, black bomber jacket with a long-sleeved black top underneath and dark jeans and carried a dark record bag, bearing a tribal pattern, over his shoulder.

The woman was also described as being of Mediterranean appearance, around 5ft 5in tall, of slim/petite build. She had shoulder-length, dark hair and was wearing a Gilet-style sleeveless jacket and black trousers.

The thefts took place just two days after three other incidents, on Tuesday, June 19, when elderly women were targeted for their purses in the city.

A police spokeswoman said: "These thefts have been distressing for all of the victims involved. We again urge shoppers to be aware when out and about and always ensure any valuables are kept on their person or clearly in sight at all times."

Anyone with any information of the thefts should call police on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.