A 35-year-old woman has been jailed for four months after a clampdown on purse thefts in Northallerton.
Genoveva Drumeva Atanasova from London was seen acting suspiciously by Hambleton District Council’s CCTV operators during a multi-agency anti-theft operation in the High Street on Wednesday 26 May 2010.
Police officers caught up with her and she was arrested and charged with stealing the purse of an 89-year-old shopper.
She appeared before Northallerton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday 27 May) where she was given a custodial sentence.
A 51-year-old woman also from London was also arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on bail as enquiries continue.
The local Safer Neighbourhood Team have conducted a number of initiatives recently to combat purse thieves in the town which has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of incidents reported.
Sergeant Simon Wilson, of Northallerton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Reassurance in our market towns remains a priority and this is a very good result for the community.
“I hope that this sends a message out to others who may be thinking of committing similar crimes in the future that we are watching them and it will not be tolerated.
“We want the residents of Hambleton and Richmondshire to feel confident that their local police officers are working with partners such as local councils to really impact on matters that affect local people.
“I would like to remind members of the public to remain vigilant at all times and help us make life difficult for purse thieves.”
Safer Neighbourhood officers will be handing out free purse chains to shoppers outside Northallerton Town Hall on Saturday 12 June and Wednesday 16 June between 10am and 1pm.
The purse chains help to secure purses to handbags to prevent them being stolen
