A PLUCKY pensioner today told how she confronted a woman who stole her purse and then chased her through a supermarket.Brave 85-year-old Ruby Miller tried to stop the woman 60 years her junior and remonstrated with her, but the thief got away.

A PLUCKY pensioner today told how she confronted a woman who stole her purse and then chased her through a supermarket.

Brave 85-year-old Ruby Miller tried to stop the woman 60 years her junior and remonstrated with her, but the thief got away.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident at the Sainsbury's store at Warren Heath, on the edge of Ipswich.

Mrs Miller, who was doing her shopping while her disabled husband Stanley waited in their car outside, had tied her handbag to the trolley she was using to protect it,

While choosing toilet rolls, she felt a touch on her hand and looked up to see a woman who did not speak but pointed to the top shelf and then walked away.

“I thought that was a bit strange and immediately noticed that my bag had been unzipped - and my purse was gone,” said Mrs Miller, who lives in a mid Suffolk village.

“I thought, right, I am going to find her, so I looked for the woman but couldn't see her anywhere, so I pushed my trolley as fast as I could down towards the checkouts.

“Then I saw the woman again and rushed up to her and she was on the phone.

“She looked at me and said, 'What do you want?' I said 'I want my purse' and she said she didn't have it. I started shouting which attracted the staff and they came running over. The woman then started swearing and ran off and out of the shop.

“I think I surprised her - she probably thought I was weak and feeble, but I've got my wits about me and I was determined to catch her and get my purse.”

Police said the woman became aggressive after staff intercepted her. She then met up with a man and both ran off.

Mrs Miller's purse contained a quantity of cash and papers.

“We would never recommend to anyone that they confront a criminal, but what she did was extremely brave,” said a police spokeswoman.

“She was very plucky and we hope that her actions will have led to lots of people noticing what happened in the supermarket and bring forward more witnesses so that we can catch this offender.”

The offender is described as white, in her late 20s to early 30s, medium to well-built, around 5ft 6ins tall, with 'dirty' blonde shoulder length hair and wearing a dark coloured body-warmer.

Anyone with information about the offender, or witnessed the incident, which happened between 12.30pm and 1.10pm on Monday March 12, is asked to call Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.