Purse stolen outside store

Jul 9 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A THIEF made off with a shopper’s purse – which was stolen from inside her car.

The 64-year-old woman had been shopping in Morrisons supermarket, in John Street, Bellshill.

When she finished at about 1pm last Friday, July 3, she made her way back to her car, which was parked in the store’s car park.

She placed her handbag on the front passenger seat, but as she started up her car a man opened the passenger door.

The man leaned in and distracted the woman by waving a large road map in front of her face.

The man shouted “Inverness” and repeatedly pointed at the map. The woman was shocked by the intrusion and directed the man elsewhere.

When the woman arrived home she discovered that her purse had been stolen.

She then returned to the supermarket in an effort to retrieve her purse but later discovered that a three-figure sum of cash had been withdrawn from her account.

The woman also had a three-figure sum of cash stolen from her purse.

The thief is described as male, aged around 35, with short dark brown hair, who was wearing dark clothing, sallow skin, and possibly drove a dark-coloured car.

Anyone who has any further information on this incident should contact Bellshill Police Office.

Meanwhile, a thug smashed a bottle over a teenager’s head in an attack in Bellshill, at around 11.30pm, on July 3, in Milnwood Drive.

The 16-year-old victim was walking with a friend when a black Vauxhall Astra, with tinted windows, pulled up alongside him.

A male passenger got out of the car and struck the youth over the head with a glass bottle.

The victim and his friend then made their way home to report the matter to the police. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for a lump on the left side of his head. He was not seriously injured but was shocked by the incident.

The suspect is described as male, aged between 20 and 25 years-old, 5ft 10in tall, and of slim build, with a shaven head.

He was also wearing a Milan football top and had an earing in his left ear.

Anyone who has any further information on this incident should contact PC Broadfoot at Bellshill Police Office.