Woman's whole holiday suitcase stolen from train in Reading

PA

It's every woman's worst nightmare (almost) - getting to their holiday destination and finding their entire suitcase has gone.

That's exactly what happened to Wendy Bennett, 63, who caught the 9.54am train at Great Malvern station last week en route to Dorset, only to find that by the time she changed at Reading her black Antler suitcase had been stolen.

Mrs Bennett, from Malvern, had placed her suitcase in the luggage rack, but it had been pilfered while she wasn't looking.

Her daughter Tracy said she was 'very upset' by the incident.

British Police (BTP) are currently investigating the theft, including looking at CCTV from the train and at stations along the route.

PC Martin Coulstock told Worcester News: 'Unfortunately, there is a risk that property may be stolen and there are people who think it is acceptable to take things that don't belong to them.
'BTP takes these sorts of offences very seriously and we are committed to both driving down theft of passenger property and catching those responsible.

'I would urge people to remain vigilant at all times, leave your belongings where you can see them and don't leave yourself open to becoming a victim.'

The British Transport Police often up the luggage theft ante during peak holiday times, placing plain-clothed policeman on trains.

But the unexpectedly hot Indian summer has prompted a sudden rise in British travellers heading towards the coast, so police warn holidaymakers to be on their guard.

Insp Gay Ash told the BBC: 'Theft of passenger property is taken extremely seriously and one of our primary policing objectives is to reduce the number of people who become a victim.'