Pensioner targeted by pickpockets in Belfast

74 year old Sylvia said she was hysterical and almost passed out when she discovered her purse had been stolen during a shopping trip to the city.

She had visited various shops in the city centre but when she went to the till at a card shop she found that her purse was gone from the bag she had been carrying over her shoulder.

“I felt something at my shoulder when I was in the shop but I didn’t really think anything of it,” said Sylvia.

“When I saw my purse was gone I was absolutely hysterical. I thought I was going to collapse.

“The staff were very helpful and called the police. I gave them all the details but there was no CCTV in the shop and I know I will never get my purse back.

“I had over £80 in the purse, as well as a lot of cards and bits and pieces.

“I am a pensioner and that’s a lot of money to me. You have to watch every penny.

“This is the first time in my life this has happened to me and I want to warn people to make sure they keep a close eye on their bag and always be aware of their surroundings.”