Pensioner thwarts the bag thieves
0 Comments | Sevenoaks Chronicle, Jul 1, 2010
A Brave pensioner has warned others to be on their guard after thieves managed to slip her purse out of her handbag.
Despite already suffering a fractured shoulder, Doris Starbuck, 74, was able to frighten the two women away by shouting at the top of her voice.
“I just want people to know these thieves are out there and to be careful,” she said afterwards.
The grandmother-of-five, who lives in Annetts Hall, Borough Green, fell victim to thieves while shopping in Bonmarche, Tonbridge High Street, on Saturday June 19 at about 11am.
One dark-haired woman in her 20s blocked the pensioner’s way while she was looking at a clothes rail, she said.
The other, an older woman with fairish hair, managed to pull her purse from her bag.
When it fell on the floor, Mrs Starbuck began to shout and the thieves ran away.
“It did really shock me to think afterwards I was a victim of this crime and that a woman had her hand in my bag,” she said.
Bonmarche spokeswoman Sarah Wilkinson said: “There are quite a few customers having their purses stolen. We are planning to work with the local police and maybe give out purse belts free of charge.”
Mrs Starbuck reported the incident to store staff but did not contact the police.
