Thief steals Vickie Mason's handbag filled with precious photos of her 18-month-old son on night out

Vickie's bag - like the one pictured- was stolen during a night out

A thief has stolen Vickie Mason's handbag containing a phone filled with precious photos of her 18-month-old son over Christmas.

Vicky had her black clutch-style bag taken from KoKo’s in Rochdale on between 4.20am and 4.45am on Friday 29 December.

Inside the black bag, which has a small gold, chain strap, was her new Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile phone containing photos of her son, plus her house keys with two Ladies’ Circle keyrings, which were gifts. The phone, which has a clear pink silicone case protecting it, was locked with a pattern code and a photo of Vickie’s son as the lock screen.

Vickie said: “My friend placed her bag on the breakfast bar on the left- hand side by the entrance at KoKos. I placed mine next to hers; I have always been cautious about being away from my bag.

“I am desperate to get my phone back, as photos are memories I can not relive. My bag was taken by a man, who was about 5’11” with dark hair and he was of a slim build. He escaped the scene by a white taxi outside of the club.”

The bag, which features a large hoop with material knotted around it, was also new, having only been purchased in November.

She added: “I have seen CCTV footage of the man using my credit card for two transactions at the Shell Garage in Shaw. He purchased three packets of Benson Blue cigarettes at 4.51am.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “We were called at 4.30am to reports of a theft of a handbag from KoKo Lounge on Packer Street. The offender made off. No arrests have been made.”