A MUM has spoken of her anger after her purse and a pair of designer sunglasses were snatched as brazen thieves raided seven cars in her neighbourhood.

Gail Braznell of Hadzor, near Droitwich believes she may have forgotten to lock her car, leaving her valuables in the door pocket as she carried her 18-month- old son Thomas into the house after visiting the supermarket. She was one of seven victims of the thieves overnight from Monday into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Her designer Gucci purse contained two debit cards, a credit card, a Nectar card and £30 in cash. There have been 26 of these type of thefts across Droitwich in the last week, which police say is about 10 times the normal volume. In the majority of cases the cars are believed to have been left unlocked by the owners.

West Mercia Police has deployed extra patrols and is warning drivers to lock their car and remove their valuables, day and night.

Mrs Braznell’s thinks her dog may have disturbed the thief or thieves midway through the raid on her Mercedes CLK as there were two other pairs of designer sunglasses in the car which were not taken. The culprits had also rifled through her glove box, scattering the contents over the seat. She estimates the theft has left her £750 out of pocket. The Dolche & Gabbana sunglasses were of sentimental value, having been purchased as a memento of a holiday in Las Vegas.

The 43-year-old is now urging other people to take care, remove valuables from their cars and make sure their vehicles are secure. She even wrote notes for neighbours, warning them thieves were operating.

She said: “I’m 99 per cent sure I didn’t lock the car."

Police suspect the cars are being targeted by one or two people, possibly using push bikes to get around.