Chubby thief targets women in Wolverhampton pubs

The woman is thought to be responsible for at least four crimes in which victims have had their handbags stolen while enjoying a meal or drink in pubs.

CCTV of the suspected thief has been released in a bid to track her down.

It shows a woman, in her 30s, entering pubs and buying a drink before carefully choosing a seat next to elderly women who have put their handbags on the floor.

She then stretches out her leg and hooks the bag handles with her foot and drags it towards her. After rifling through it to search for valuables she then makes a speedy exit. Police say the crook, who wears glasses, struck at the George Wallis pub in Victoria Street in February and March.

Two further crimes were reported this month at the Lady Wulfrun and the Moon Under Water in Lichfield Street.

The victims come from Oxley, Slade Heath and Cannock. They range in age from 47 to 86. Pc Matt Kidson said: "We've worked hard to make Wolverhampton a safer city so it's a shame that people think they can come into the town and target law abiding locals.

"On each occasion an offence has been reported, the same woman has been spotted coming to sit next to the victim for an unusually short period of time.

"I would ask that people take a minute to look at the images and call us if they recognise the woman."

She has been described as chubby by police. Police have been trawling hours of CCTV footage and working with licensees to raise awareness of the crimes.

Anyone with information which may help Pc Kidson identify the woman can call him on 101.