Heartbreak over '˜irreplaceable photos' on stolen phone

At about 2pm on Thursday (February 23) the victim, a 23-year-old woman, was shopping in Morrisons at St James’s Street, Brighton.

She put her mobile phone in her basket along with her shopping and went to the self-service checkout.

However, police said another woman saw this and took the phone out of the basket while the victim wasn’t looking.

Sussex Police has released a CCTV image of a woman who officers would like to speak to.

The suspect (pictured) is described as white, in her mid-20s to early-30s, of slim build, with medium length blonde hair tied back which had black roots showing. She wore glasses, flat shoes, a blue ‘parka style’ anorak with furry hood, a grey scarf which was wrapped around her, a skirt and dark coloured tights.

PC Russ Watson said; “The mobile phone itself, a Samsung 5 Android with a red case, is expensive but replaceable. The real loss felt by the victim is that the phone contains personal sentimental photographs of her recently deceased mother. These photographs are of course irreplaceable and their loss has cause significant upset for the victim who desperately wants to retrieve them.

“If you know who this woman is, or if you can help in any other way, please contact us via [email protected] quoting serial 776 of 23/02.

“You can also report online here or call 101.”