A "SNEAKY" thief has been stealing women's handbags from wheelchairs.

On Monday, a

42-year-old woman who suffers from cerebral palsy had her handbag stolen from her wheelchair while shopping in Vicar Street, Kidderminster.

The knitted cream bag was empty but had sentimental value, as it had been a present from abroad.

Also in Kidderminster, a handbag was stolen from the back of an elderly woman's wheelchair while she was shopping in Littlewoods Store in Worcester Street. The incident happened on Friday afternoon.

Police, who dubbed the thief "sneaky", have issued a reminder to shoppers - especially those who use wheelchairs - to keep a close guard on their personal property.