Seven held in city blitz

Seven people have been arrested in Lichfield city centre as police continue their efforts to stamp out purse thefts.

Together with CCTV operators, officers made the arrests on Saturday as the city centre was packed with Christmas shoppers. Inspector Mike Kozam, commander of Lichfield Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said they were all those arrested were suspected of being involved in theft. The incidents are now being investigated by police.

Just after 1pm officers received a report of a purse which had been either lost or stolen earlier in the day.

CCTV staff were alerted, and officers were on patrol in the city centre. Two females were spotted acting suspiciously around the NatWest cashpoint in the Market Square, and placed under observation by a special constable.

The pair then split up, with one going into a number of shops including Woolworths, before getting into a car on Bird Street car park. The other was stopped as she tried to get to the car, which was stopped by a patrol car on The Friary.

Two women and two men from the London area were arrested. They are aged 17 to 23.

Inspector Kozam said a search of the vehicle recovered more than £200, and a search of one of the shops saw a purse and cards recovered.

Later on Saturday afternoon three more people were arrested following the theft of a purse. All three, from the Wolverhampton area, have been bailed while police make further enquiries.

By Faye Casey