Handbags have been stolen from several cars parked outside golf clubs in the midlands in recent weeks.
Thefts have taken place at Mount Temple golf club near Moate, Athlone golf club, Daingean golf club in Co Offaly and at Glasson golf club near Athlone.
Tom Reid of Glasson Golf Hotel said thefts last Saturday were the first in 13 years at the club and appeared to be part of a recent pattern in the midlands. He said targets appeared to be "handbags in all cases", with cars broken into through windows or boots.
A spokesman for the Garda in Athlone confirmed that the thefts had been reported.
Deirdre O'Sullivan, whose car was robbed at Glasson on Saturday, said yesterday that her car was one of a number of vehicles broken into in the car park. The thefts happened in the afternoon.
She said she had lost credit cards, her driving licence and €100 in cash. Some of the other women had lost substantially more money.
