A MOTHER is appealing to neighbours to keep a lookout for her handbag after it was snatched from her kitchen.

The small brown Radley canvas handbag was stolen from Andrea Bradley’s home in Montrose Drive, Bromley Cross, on Sunday evening between 9.30pm and 10.25pm

The bag also contained the key to Mrs Bradley’s Volkswagen car.

Police have since made an arrest and recovered the key, but the handbag is still missing and Mrs Bradley is asking neighbours to keep an eye out for it.

The 51-year-old said she had been angered by the thieves burgling her home while she and her family were home.

She said: “I was sat there with my kitchen door open. For them to have the audacity to go in while we have a houseful of people shows that people need to be more vigilant and keep their doors closed, particularly if they have one of the high powered cars that would be interesting to these people.”

When she briefly went into the lounge to talk to husband Mark, the thieves struck and took the handbag.

An attempt was made to withdraw money using one of the cards and Mrs Bradley immediately had a phone alert from her credit card company.

Mrs Bradley praised the police. She said: “GMP get so much bad press, because they’re really strapped for officers and have a lot to deal with.

“But crime scene came around immediately and I have been in touch with the detective constable and the Traffic Area Support Services officers came to see me last night.

“They have done an amazing job.”

Mrs Bradley's handbag is a small brown Radley canvas bag with light blue leather. It contains items of sentimental value.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.