A warning about purses

City Police are warning office and retail workers to avoid leaving their purses and other valuables where members of the public can get at them.

The advisory comes after two reports of purses stolen last night at Station Mall.

The first incident took place before 5 p.m. from a mall office.

The second incident was a purse-snatching that occurred around 8 p.m.

Two males approached a female in the food court area, grabbed her purse and ran out of the mall, police say.

A citizen chased the culprits, who dropped the purse as they ran.

The suspects are both described as being about 18 years old, 5'10" weighing around 150 pounds.

Both were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and one appeared to have a goatee.

"As we get closer to the Christmas season, more of these types of incidents will take place," police say in a news release this morning. "Please take an extra minute to secure your valuables."

Police also report a suspicious car fire around 5 a.m. today on North Street.

More overnight police news is available by clicking on the City Police Beat and OPP Beat links at the left of this page.