Police are appealing for witnesses after three women had their purses stolen from supermarkets in the Ipswich and Martlesham areas on Tuesday.

The first theft took place at around 11am at Lidl, in London Road in Ipswich, on Tuesday, January 16.

A woman in her late 70s was shopping when some tins of food fell on the floor.

A man helped her pick up the tins but the woman later discovered her purse was missing.

The second theft happened on the same day at around 1.15pm at Tesco, in Anson Road in Martlesham, where a purse belonging to a woman in her early 60s was stolen from her handbag.

The third happened at 1.40pm at Aldi on Hines Road.

A woman in her 70s, who had left her purse in her trolley, returned to find it had been stolen by two unknown women.

Suffolk police have issued fresh advice on how to protect your purse, wallet or bag from thieves.

They advise keeping your bag closed and close to you at all times with the opening towards your body, not to overload yourself with bags and coats and to avoid carrying your wallet or purse in a back trouser pocket.

They also advice that when you put money in your handbag, you shouldn’t let people see where you put it – especially when you are using an ATM - and not to leave your handbag, pushchair or shopping trolley unattended.

If you witnessed any suspicious behaviour or have any information that could assist officers in their investigation call Ipswich police on 101 quoting crime numbers 37/3157/18 for the first theft, 37/3180/18 for the second and 37/3137/18 for the third.