Shoppers in Carlow are being warned of pickpockets doing the rounds in the run up to Christmas.
It follows two cases in the town over the past week in Lidl and Aldi.
One woman noticed her purse missing from her handbag at Lidl on the Tullow Road.
While in Aldi in Hanover, a woman was approached by a man in the car park; he distracted her, then a female handed the woman her own handbag asking if it was hers.
The only item missing seemed to be an atm card with contactless payment.
These can be used for thefts up to 30 euro before they can be stopped.
Garda Andy Neill says avoid leaving your handbags on top of trolleys