An 80-year-old Devonshire woman was the victim of a sneak thief outside Marketplace on Church Street on Thursday night.

The theft comes less than a week after the Chamber of Commerce warned that vagrants in Hamilton were becoming more aggressive ? especially towards seniors ? and called on the Corporation of Hamilton and the Police to address the situation.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said the victim told Police she was packing her groceries into her vehicle at about 11.10 p.m. when she was approached by a local vagrant who asked for spare change.

Mr. Caines said the woman gave the vagrant some coins and in return, he helped her put the last bag of groceries into the car.

The woman told Police that the vagrant took the grocery cart back to the store, but she realised that she had left a blue bank bag in the cart.

?However, when she went to retrieve the cart, the bank bag and the vagrant were nowhere to be found,? he said.

The suspect is described as a dark brown skinned man, approximately 5?6? tall, with a short afro and facial hair, wearing a jean jacket.

Mr. Caines said inquiries into the incident were underway and Police appealed for any witnesses to the incident to contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.

?Police are investigating two reported cases of breaking and entering which took place on Thursday at homes in Southampton and Devonshire.

A Police spokesman said some time between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. an unknown culprit gained entered a Middle Road, Southampton home. He said $900 in cash, a crystal cross and other personal items were taken.

Police also responded to a call from a Poinciana Road home in Devonshire where some time between 8 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. an unknown culprit entered the house and stole $315 in cash and several items of jewellery.