1:10pm Wednesday 24th February 2010
By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter
Undercover police are targeting nightclubs to tackle a spate of handbag thefts.
Officers believe opportunist criminals are behind dozens of thefts of bags and mobile phones from people visiting Brighton seafront.
Sussex Police received 40 reports in a two-week period earlier this month and say the King’s Road Arches area is the main hotspot.
Officers went undercover in Honey Club and Brighton Coalition on Thursday night to try to root out the culprits.
They are pledging to repeat the operation in cafes and bars in the daytime and pubs and clubs at night to reduce the number of thefts hitting the city centre.
Inspector David Derrick said: “There are opportunists out there.
“People need to be more vigilant about their own property.
“Don’t think for a second your handbag is safe without you.”
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