Police believe six bag snatches in Harborough could have been carried out by the same thief

Officers are urgently appealing for eye-witnesses to come forward as they believe the same thief could have carried out all six crimes.

Detectives are being drafted in to help uniformed officers hunt the suspect after the mini-crimewave in Harborough.

The latest incident happened at about 2.30pm last Thursday in Sainsbury’s car park.

The disabled pensioner unlocked her car, a black Citroen C3, to get into the driver's seat - but a man wearing a hoodie was waiting by her passenger door and quickly stole her handbag and a bag of Christmas shopping from her passenger seat.

A Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, a bottle of alcohol and clothing were also stolen.

The shocked victim screamed at the brazen crook.

But he ran off out of the packed car park as Christmas shoppers looked on.

The suspect is described as mixed race with a light complexion.

He was in his late 20s to early 30s, slim build with short dark hair.

He was wearing black skinny jeans, black trainers, a grey hooded top and was carrying a white carrier bag.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: “Officers are linking this incident to a number of similar thefts from inside parked vehicles in the same area.”

On Wednesday November 6 at around 6.30pm a man approached a vehicle and tried to steal a bag from the front seat as the driver sat inside.

A short while later a woman had her handbag stolen from her car boot while she sat in the driver’s seat.

Inside the bag was a mobile phone and cash.

At 8.20pm the same day a thief snatched a Radley handbag while the owner was distracted.

The bag contained credit cards and a mobile phone.

On Thursday November 14 at about 7pm a man tried to steal a bag from the front passenger seat of a car.

The suspect dropped the bag and fled empty-handed.

At 8.30pm that night, while the victim was inside their vehicle, the suspect stole a Radley handbag containing a mobile phone, cash, credit cards and keys.

Investigating officer Det Con Matt Smith, of Leicestershire CID, said: “Enquiries into all these incidents are continuing.

“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the car park on Thursday afternoon and saw a man acting suspiciously.”

He added: “Equally, if you have any information about who was responsible for any of the incidents we urge you to make contact.”

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 quoting crime reference 19*596228.