14/06/10…Purse bell handout to combat purse theft increase
THE South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership is to hand out hundreds of purse bells in response to a growing number of reported purse thefts in South Oxfordshire.
This follows a similar initiative two years ago, when the partnership funded the purchase of purse chains, resulting in an 18 per cent reduction in purse thefts in South Oxfordshire.
In the past 12 months reported purse thefts have nearly doubled in towns in South Oxfordshire. Henley town in particular has seen a seven-fold increase in this type of theft but in Thame the number has gone down from 39 between 2008 and 2009, to 30 between 2009 and 2010.
The majority of victims are elderly ladies out shopping in the town centres. Thieves have been targeting these vulnerable people while they are distracted in supermarkets, post offices and charity shops, by lifting purses out of open handbags or left unattended in shopping trolleys.
The purse bells are available for elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents who request them at police stations, libraries and town halls, or One Stop shops in Didcot, Henley, Thame and Wallingford. The purse bells attach to the zip on a purse and are designed to alert shoppers should someone attempt to steal it.
Police Community Support Officers will also be organising initiatives to give out purse bells throughout the year in the main areas where the thefts are happening. These events will be publicised locally.
Crime reduction advisor, Julia Wheeler said: ?The purse bells are designed to be a deterrent to thieves, and we want to make them available to as many elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents as possible.
?We are also advising shoppers to take extra care of their belongings whilst they are out and about. Be extra vigilant of people around you and be aware of where your belongings are should anyone try to distract you.
?Never leave your handbag unattended, or in a shopping trolley, and always securely fasten your handbag, with the opening zip or flap next to your body.?
