A 56-year-old woman who initially hadn't realised her purse had been stolen has prevented her bank account being emptied.

The purse theft happened while she was out walking in Canterbury at lunchtime on Wednesday, October 26.

When she returned to work in the afternoon she received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from her bank.

The caller stated that there was a problem with her bankcard and asked for her PIN.

The woman became suspicious and refused to provide the information. She checked her bag and discovered that her purse was missing. She contacted the bank herself immediately and cancelled all her cards.

A police spokesman said: “No-one, not even your bank, should ask you for your PIN. The personal details that can be found in a wallet or purse can quickly allow a thief to trace the owner and try to get security information from them.

People should also treat anyone asking for a mother’s maiden name or other security password as suspicious and refuse the information.”