Christchurch woman Bernadette Whelan (48) due at Southampton Magistrates’ Court charged with purse thefts at Waitrose on Hythe High Street and Marks & Spencer Food on Station Road, New Milton

chris.march@advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Published: 17:20, 05 February 2024

A CHRISTCHURCH woman has been charged over the alleged theft of purses at two supermarkets.

Police arrested Bernadette Whelan (48) on Dorset Road at 1.45pm yesterday (Sunday) in connection with the offences – said to have been committed in Hythe and New Milton.

A purse was first reported to have been stolen at Hythe Waitrose on High Street on Tuesday 7th November last year.

A purse was reported stolen in Waitrose on High Street in Hythe on 7th November 2023 (picture: Google)

Then, on Monday 22nd January, a handbag and purse were reportedly snatched at New Milton’s Marks & Spencer Food on Station Road.

Charged with two counts of theft, Whelan was remanded in police custody to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Tuesday).

A handbag and purse were reportedly stolen at Marks & Spencer Food on Station Road in New Milton on 22nd January (picture: Google)

Christchurch Courts Crime Hythe and Dibden New Milton Chris March