LONE women drivers are being targeted at traffic lights in Huddersfield.
Thieves have attacked cars as the drivers pull up, smashing windows and stealing property.
Two women fell victim at Edgerton – and the detective in charge of hunting down the thieves believes more could be at risk.
Det Insp Mark Truelove said: “We have had two such incidents in the past few days and they are shocking crimes for the victims.
“There have been two so far and my gut instinct is there could be others unless we catch them.
“We believe these gangs are loitering at the traffic lights on the lookout for likely victims, and other drivers must have seen them.
“It’s important to let people know about them so reasonable precautions can be taken.
“Many women put their handbags on the passenger seats and that is what they are after.”
Both crimes have been in broad daylight, in the early afternoons.
In both cases, woman pulled up at the lights at the junction of Edgerton Grove Road and Halifax Road and were terrified as thugs smashed the windows to grab property.
The offenders, who escaped on foot, had been seen hanging around in the area a short time before committing the offences.
One offence was on Edgerton Grove Road on December 30. A woman pulled up at the traffic lights and had a bag stolen from the car after the thieves smashed a window.
Both were white males. One wore a white hooded top, a black coat and white jogging trousers. The second was in a black hooded top and black trousers. Both wore black and white trainers.
The earlier offence was in Halifax Road, Edgerton, on December 18, again in the early afternoon, as a woman driver waited in her car at the traffic lights.
The car was approached by three males, one of whom peered into the car, smashed the window and grabbed a bag from the passenger seat.
The suspects then ran off through nearby gardens with the bag.
One thief was described as white, with a big ugly face, stocky, late 20s, grey hooded top and jeans. The other two were white and the same age as the first.
Det Insp Truelove said: “I have talked previously about never leaving valuable items on display in vehicles overnight but these recent offences clearly show that offenders are now prepared to target vehicles which are occupied where handbags are clearly visible and on display.
“We also had an incident on December 20 in Park Avenue, Springwood, when a woman driver had parked her car and was sitting in the driving seat as a man yanked opened the passenger door.
“He grabbed a bag and tried to flee but the woman fought back and clung on to the bag. In the struggle she suffered ligament damage to a finger.”
The suspect made off on a pedal cycle and is described as in his mid to late 20s, tall and thin, with a thin face, wearing a grey hooded top.
l Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 6060606 or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555111.
