Man arrested after elderly woman's handbag stolen in Mansfield
Police have arrested a man after an elderly woman’s handbag was stolen from her car while she loaded her shopping into it in Mansfield.
Officers identified a suspect via CCTV and other enquiries after the incident in a supermarket car park off Nottingham Road in the town.
Further investigations led to the handbag being recovered in a van.
A man was taken into custody on suspicion of theft from a vehicle shortly after the woman in her 80s was targeted at around 1.35pm yesterday (Tuesday, April 20).
Sgt Victoria Wetton said: "Our officers worked quickly to carry out their enquiries and we're glad that we were able to recover the victim's belongings.
"It has also led to a man being arrested.
"Opportunist thieves need to be warned that we have a number of methods to track them down and even catch them in the act. We will also do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.
“It is completely unacceptable to prey on vulnerable people and we don't want anyone to feel threatened while they go about their shopping.”