Alarms to tackle Christmas thefts

Elderly shoppers in Leicestershire are being given alarms to cut down on purse thefts in the run-up to Christmas.

Six hundred alarms have been funded by the police and the North West Leicestershire Partnership in Safer Communities.

The alarms are activated when anyone tries to lift the purse out of the bag while the alarm is attached to it.

Officers said there had been 84 purse thefts in North West Leicestershire over the past five months.

The alarms will be available at 18 roads shows held in the area.