The investigation into a thief who preyed on pensioners travelling between West Bromwich and Birmingham was the largest ever conducted on the region’s bus network, police revealed today.

The inquiry resulted in Adam Gawron being locked up for three-and-a-half years for his five-month crime spree.

The 35-year-old slashed pensioners’ handbags to steal their purses and his eldest victim was 98.

Sergeant Suraya Latif, from the police’s Safer Travel Team, led the investigation. Sergeant Latif said today: “This was the largest investigation into purse dipping seen on the West Midlands bus network by the Safer Travel Team so we are extremely happy to have a good result.

“We are regularly conducting both overt and covert patrols across the West Midlands’ bus network and are committed to working with our partners to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour on our region’s transport.”

As part of the investigation, police officers catalogued 90 similar offences, most of which were carried out on the 74 and 79 services between West Bromwich and Birmingham city centre. Officers also studied CCTV footage. Gawron, of Hilton Street, in West Bromwich, was jailed earlier this week at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Nearly all of his victims were pensioners in their 70s and 80s who were left shaken by the crimes.

Gawron covered his hands with his coat while he slashed women’s bags with a knife to steal their purses. On three occasions he used their bank cards to steal money ranging from £30 to £800.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, one count of attempted theft and five counts of theft. The judge also took 10 similar thefts into consideration.