COPS WARN OVER 'POSH' HANDBAGS

By: watches2010 Mood: Date: 01/31/2010 19:44:17 Music: None

By MIRROR REPORTER TRENDY maxi-bags adored by style icons such as Victoria Beckham are making women in Northern Ireland prime targets for ID theft.

For fashionistas now carry lots more documents - from passports to wage slips - in the oversized accessories.

Fraud specialists CPP warn that, with muggings up 25 per cent, women who carry their lives in the hold-alls are easy prey for thieves who can clone the information inside. t8led fluorescent tube

They carried out the research after British Crime Survey figures showed a 25 per cent rise in bag theft on last year.

A spokesman said: "The maxi bag - which has been flying off shelves since Moss rolexfake and Beckham were seen sporting the accessory - allows thieves easy access to the personal documents.

"They can easily use papers to pilfer bank accounts, set up false direct debits and forge IDs."

The CPP study revealed that in Belfast 25 per cent of women regularly carry a wallet in their bag while 50 per cent carry a driver's licence.

It makes the city a hot-spot for bag thieves as it tops the poll for oversized bags along with Glasgow and London.

embroideredpatches And it's not just fashionconscious women who are at risk. One in 10 men now carry a man bag and more than 62 per cent admit they carry sensitive personal documentation - including bank statements and passports.

Fraud expert Kerry D'Souza from CPP said: "Many are making it simple for fraudsters. Avoid carrying personal documents on you."