An elderly shopper has been left devastated after her bag, containing her phone, bank cards and a large amount of cash, was snatched while shopping in High Wycombe – just weeks after her husband’s funeral.

Karen Atkins told the Bucks Free Press her 85-year-old mother was shopping in town on Tuesday, April 26, with Karen’s sister when the worrying incident happened, which came just weeks after her father was buried.

After going to the bank to take some cash out, the pair browsed a few shops together, but Karen said her sister got a bad feeling they were being followed.

She said: “They did a few shops and my sister said she felt like someone was following them but she couldn’t put her finger on it so they just carried on.

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“They got into M&S, went upstairs, and it was only when she went to pay for some food downstairs she realised her bag had been snatched.

“She has a push trolley that she can sit down if she gets tired and she keeps her bag on that in front of her so it's in front of her in the trolley.”

The incident was reportedly caught on CCTV, with Karen saying a woman had “distracted” her mother, while another older woman swiped her handbag.

The thieves had also reportedly taken cash out of their elderly victim’s account after stealing the bag, which had a “large quantity” of money, a mobile phone and two bank cards.

Karen praised the Eden Shopping Centre security team and M&S for being “marvellous” in the aftermath of the theft, but urged shoppers, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable, to be aware when out and about.

She said: “My mum isn’t usually shy about saying anything but this was horrible and it has just upset all of us. We only lost my dad a few weeks ago so mum is very fragile. She didn’t need this.

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“There are so many elderly people who go into the bank, they shout out to the staff how much money they want to take out, they put it in their bag and then they’re vulnerable.

“Elderly people can be very trusting, thinking things like this wouldn’t happen in their day, but they do happen now and you have to be so careful.

“I work with people with special needs and we drum it into them about strangers and how to look after their money. It’s just awful that this can happen. You can’t trust anyone.

“We’ve had to get bank cards cancelled and new cards and we’ve reported it to the bank. It’s just been a real trauma.”

Karen said Eden and M&S security were brilliant after the theft, adding: “They really helped my mum and my sister. They were marvellous and I just want to say thank you.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “We received a report of a theft at 2.30pm yesterday.

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“The victim, a woman aged in her eighties, had had her handbag stolen in Eden Place, High Wycombe, sometime between 1.15pm and 2.15pm on April 26.

“The handbag contained a large quantity of cash, a mobile phone and two bank cards.

“Following an investigation, the report has been filed pending further information coming to light.

“If anyone has information about it then they should call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference number 43220178976.”