POLICE are warning women to be extra vigilant after bag snatchers on bikes struck for the second time in 48 hours.

A thug on a bicycle deliberately rode into a 42-year-old woman near the Focus store in the Coulby Manor Shopping Centre, Coulby Newham, at about 4pm on Monday and grabbed her handbag which contained £50, credit cards and a security swipe card for work.

Then, at about 6.30pm on Thursday, two youths on an off-road motor bike snatched a handbag from a 58-year-old woman as she left her car to visit a fish and chip shop in Bickley Way, Coulby New-ham.

The second woman struggled to keep hold of the bag, but the shoulder strap snapped, and the hooded robbers sped off with it. The bag contained a small amount of cash and other personal items.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Police would warn all women to be extra vigilant.''

Anyone with information about either of the bag snatches is asked to contact police on (01642) 303126.