The top pickpocket hotspots in Colchester are named today.
Police have revealed the five shops where the most purse thefts have been reported in the last year.
Marks and Spencer, in the High Street, ranked highest with 20 snatches between July 2006 and July 2007.
The Card Factory, in Long Wyre Street, was second with 11 recorded pickpocket cases.
PDSA's charity shop, also in Long Wyre Street, had seven purse thefts, while Asda in Turner Rise had six.
Sainsbury's stores in Priory Walk and Tollgate reported five incidents each.
Pickpockets are most prolific in High Street, where 92 purse snatches were reported to police.
Another area where gangs target is Long Wyre Street, which had 45 cases.
PC Rob Temme, of Colchester police, said: "There are several charity shops in the Long Wyre Street area, where a lot of vulnerable people tend to shop like the elderly and mums with pushchairs who can be easily distracted."
- More in today's Gazette
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