Byline: LYNN DAVIDSON
String of thefts in city cinemas
Family targeted in dark auditorium
UCI 'can't put staff in each theatre'
MOVIE-GOERS are being warned to hang on to their handbags after a string of thefts in city cinemas.
Visitors to cinemas, especially women, are being targeted by thieves because the darkened auditoriums with loud music and sound effects can distract people unaware they are being targeted.
Now police are warning customers to be extra vigilant and to keep their bags on their laps in a bid to curb the problem.
Stainless Steel BangleThe Lucchesi family from Causewayside were victims of a cinema theft this week.
Heather Lucchesi, 37, and her husband Renato, 40, of Relugas Road, had taken their two young children, three-year-old Alba and Antony, four, to see Spy Kids 2 at the UCI in Kinnaird Park last week.
They thought they were the only people in the cinema for the 2.30pm showing and joked that they had the whole place to themselves.
But the visit ended in tears when the mum-of-two discovered her handbag had been rifled through and her purse and diary stolen.
She said today: "We were wearing 3-D glasses so it is hard to see and inside the cinema it is virtually pitch black.
"We did see two young men come into the cinema after the film had started.
"It wasn't until after the film had finished and I picked my bag up and something fell out that I realised someone had been in it.
"We alerted the staff and they phoned the police who told us there had been a spate of these kind of thefts.
"I think we were quick enough at cancelling the cards but we are not sure if they got anything or not."
She added: "If we had known there was a risk, such as signs clearly on display, then we would have been more careful.
Chanel Bags Replica"The management didn't seem that surprised but when we spoke to the police they said there had been a number of similar incidents at that cinema.
"It is disconcerting to think someone was creeping round the cinema - the management told us they hadn't even bought tickets, so they had sneaked through whatever security they have there."
A spokeswoman for UCI admitted there had been several incidents but claimed the company had done all it could to protect guests.
She said: "We do have signs up saying that thieves operate in the area but we are an entertainment business so we don't want to put up big screens advertising it.
"We have worked with the police to try to solve this problem and we do regret what has happened to this family.
"But we can't have a member of staff in every cinema as it is just not cost-effective and, while we do as much as we can, people still need to look after their own personal possessions. It is more a sign of the times rather than a reflection on the cinema," she added.
A police spokeswoman said: "We have received a number of reports recently of bags and belongings being stolen whilst the owners are sitting in the cinema.
"We would take this opportunity to remind people to be vigilant with their prop
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