Abbotsford Police are warning people to safeguard their valuables after two separate purse snatchings from vehicles at gas stations on New Year's Eve.

The first incident occurred after a woman pulled her SUV into a service station in the 2000 block of Sumas Way at 3 p.m., said Const. Ian MacDonald.

When she got back into the vehicle after filling it up, she noticed her purse was missing from the passenger seat.

Investigating police officers reviewed the gas station's security tape and saw a woman approach the vehicle, quickly open the passenger door and make off with the purse, said MacDonald.

A second incident took place a little later in the afternoon at a gas station at the corner of Bourquin Crescent and South Fraser Way.

There, a woman filling up her vehicle got back into her car and noticed her purse was gone. Her child sitting in the car recounted seeing an arm come through the vehicle's open window and pull out the purse, said MacDonald.

The easiest way to prevent such thefts is to secure your car or keep your valuables with you, he said.

Purses also routinely go missing while sitting in shopping carts at grocery stores, MacDonald added.

"I don't know why people think car seats or shopping carts provide them with some impenetrable security force for their valuables . . . but it doesn't," he said.

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com