A MOPED-riding thief snatched a woman’s handbag, containing a valued lock of her late mother’s hair, as she loaded shopping into her car at Cradley Heath’s Tesco store The 59-year-old woman, who does not wish to be named, said she was “heartbroken” to lose the keepsake – just a month after her much-loved mother died.

“It was all I had left of her and it was of great sentimental value,” said the woman, adding: “I would just like people to be aware of what happened so that they can be more vigilant.”

She appealed for anyone who finds the bag or has any information about the incident to contact the police.

The woman was putting her shopping in the car at 8.55am on Tuesday July 28 when a man on a black Suzuki moped rode up behind her, grabbed the trolley containing her handbag and snatched the bag.

He was dressed in black and was wearing a black crash helmet. The woman thinks he was white and in his early to mid 20s.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman appealed for anyone information to contact them on 101.

She added that it appeared to be an isolated incident with no similar ones reported.