POLICE have issued a warning to local women to keep a firm grip on their handbags after four separate incidents in Lancaster and Morecambe.

The three handbag snatches - and one attempted snatch - appear to be the work of opportunist' thieves and are probably not linked, says a police spokesman.

But he warns anyone carrying a handbag, or luggage of any kind, to be vigilant.

As a result of one of the handbag thefts from a shop in Morecambe at the weekend, police are also looking for a quantity of prescribed drugs.

The 30 Prednisolone' steroid tablets could be dangerous if taken by anyone who is not prescribed them, say police.

Two inhalers, taken in the same theft, could also be harmful if used in the wrong way.

A man in his early 2's attempted to steal a handbag from a trainee teacher returning to her home in Derwent Road, Lancaster, on Friday. He ran off when his attempt failed.

He is described as white, around five feet nine inches tall and was wearing a white, short-sleeved England football top with red strips on both sleeves and light coloured jeans or tracksuit bottoms with trainers.

A woman sitting on a bench at Horseshoe Corner at 10.45 on Sunday evening had her bag snatched by a man who ran off towards the city centre.

The offender is said to be in his early 20s, six feet tall and slim with a pale complexion and dark mousy hair. He wore a plain cream jumper and dark blue jeans.

Earlier on Sunday evening, a woman was walking along Sandylands Promenade, near the Grosvenor Hotel, when a man approached her and snatched her shoulder bag.

He is described as being between 18 and 19 years old, clean shaven and slim with dark brown short hair, a pale complexion and about five feet 10 tall.

April 17, 2003 09:30