Thieves pinched bag from car, then used the stolen bank cards

The incident happened at around 12.30pm last Wednesday, while the Vauxhall Meriva was parked along a stretch of road near to the beach at Druridge Bay Country Park.

Thieves smashed the vehicle’s rear window and stole a handbag, which contained a purse with various bank and credit cards, train tickets and a driving licence. An £80 watch, which was a 30th birthday present, was also pinched, as was about £60 of make-up and some CDs.

The victims had been walking their dogs at the time and say that the handbag was out of view.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Bank cards that were inside the handbag have been used at nearby shops.

“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 501 21/03/18.”