THE victim of a handbag snatch in York today told how the thieves used a mobile phone to trick her.

Angela Duffus had all her belongings taken when she was attacked in Sainsbury's car park, Fossbank, York, on Thursday.

The incident, which left the victim shaken, happened as she walked out of the car park towards the city centre. A part-time lecturer in nursing at the University of York, Mrs Duffus, 47, said she heard a mobile phone go off - immediately before her bag was snatched.

"Looking back, it was very clever. There's no way it could have been a coincidence," the mother-of-two said.

"I was walking out of the car park, up some stairs, when I heard a mobile phone go off.

"I thought it was mine and stopped and looked in my bag. I saw that it wasn't my phone and, as I was putting my bag back over my shoulder, it was wrenched away from me.

"I didn't see who it was, but they must have been waiting for someone. I want to warn other women to watch out for this kind of attack. It was immediate and had to have been planned. I have to bring this to the attention of other people. I was left with no belongings, no car keys and no money. I could have been stranded in York," said Mrs Duffus, of Thrintoft, near Northallerton. Police are now warning people to guard their property more closely.

A spokesman said: "We would urge people not to leave mobile phones and any other valuables at the top of their bags.

"We also advise people to keep their belongings close to them. If someone does try to snatch a handbag, then let it go. It's not worth getting hurt."

Updated: 11:38 Saturday, September 29, 2001