Crime prevention is ringing the changes on petty thieves.

Clacton's crime prevention panel has come up with an ingenious way to stop thieves taking purses without the victims realising, launched on Saturday.

The panel will be giving away bells, like those you would put on a cat's collar to alert birds to their presence to attach to your purse. Then, if someone takes your purse out of your bag you should be alerted.

The crime reduction panel will be selling the bells at the Tendring Community Voluntary Services' Victorian Christmas Market on Saturday. They are 50p each but will be free to people over 60.

Published Wednesday, November 17, 2004

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