THREE elderly women were victims of bag snatchings within six days on a Newport estate.

Police are warning residents of the Bettws estate that a bag-snatcher may be targeting older women after three females between 61 and 74 were victims of broad daylight bag snatchings between Tuesday and Saturday last week.

In two of the incidents the victims were pushed roughly to the floor by their attacker who was estimated to be in his mid to late teens.

The first incident was on Tuesday at 10.10am a 61-year-old woman was pushed to the floor on Monnow Way. Her blue and white shopping bag was stolen, with contents including her house keys, bus pass and glasses. She was not injured.

She said her attacker was a white male aged around 17, wearing a dark hoodie with the hood up.

The second happened two days later on Thursday, on Monnow Walk at 10.50am.

A 74-year-old woman was pulled to the ground as a male grabbed her bag, bruising her ribs and grazing her fingers.

The bag snatcher made off with her handbag, which contained her £240 pension and house keys.

She told police the youth was aged between 14 and 16, white and wearing a dark jacket with a grey hood up.

After grabbing her bag the youth ran off towards Frome Walk.

The third incident happened at around 12.43pm on Saturday in Welland Circle.

A 70-year-old lady was out for a walk with her husband when a male came up behind them and ripped the woman's bag from her shoulder before running off down an alleyway.

She said the thief was a white male, wearing a black hooded top.

Police say the incidents may be linked and are urging local residents to be vigilant, especially with their personal possessions.

Anyone with information about the above attacks should contact Bettws Police on 01633 838111.