SOUTH Worcestershire police are linking three thefts and a suspicious incident that all took place in between 6.50pm and 7.53pm on Monday, December 16.

The first incident took place at 6.50pm at an address in Tibberton, near Droitwich, when £200 in a purse and a further £100 were taken.

When two men in a grey H registration estate car - with a dog in the back - were seen by the victims, they drove off quickly, shouting they were going to see a nearby caravan.

Some time between 4.45pm and 7pm, a handbag containing between £20 and £40 was stolen from the kitchen of a home in Elmley Lane, Cutnall Green, near Droitwich.

Then at 7.53pm, a man in Banks Green, near Redditch was verbally abused by one of two men in what is believed to be a silver Austin estate car with a dog in the back.

One of the men said he had found the lurcher dog - described as white with gingery patches - and was calling at houses in the area to try and locate the owner.

He was described as 5ft 9ins tall, fairly thick set with one earring and wearing a blue top, blue trousers, black shoes and a woollen hat. The second man, who remained in the car, was believed similarly dressed.

While the man who had been abused was talking to police by telephone, a neighbour arrived saying that boxes of beer had been stolen from his home in nearby Tardebigge.

Anyone with information should call the police on 08457 444 888, quoting 198C/161203 for the first incident, 383S/161203 for the second and 216C161203 for the third and fourth.