Detectives are warning the Asian community to keep their jewellery in a safe place after women were targeted in a spate of street robberies.

Police are investigating three separate incidents where gold necklaces have been ripped from Asian women as they were wearing them.

Detectives are unclear whether the attacks are linked or whether opportunist thieves are at work. But with the Muslim celebration of Eid taking place this weekend, they have warned people to keep their valuables safe.

Detective Inspector Nicola Bryar, of Bradford South CID, said yesterday: “We have seen a recent spate of incidents where people have been approached in the street for their jewellery. At a time when members of our Asian community are celebrating, personal security is particularly pertinent.

“Don’t advertise expensive items or gifts to those around you, as you could inadvertently make yourself a target.

“It is important that you keep your valuables safe at home and not on public show.”

Det Insp Bryar added: “We are looking into the possibility that these are linked, but it is equally possible that they are the result of opportunist thieves.”

In the latest incident, a 73-year-old woman had a gold necklace and pendant ripped from round her neck when she was attacked by two Asian suspects in Stanmore Place, Horton Grange, Bradford, shortly after 9.30am last Friday. One of the suspects was described as short, and wearing a dark red T-shirt.

Two days earlier, a 26-year-old woman, who was with her four-year-old daughter, and her aunt, 32, had gold necklaces ripped from around their necks when they were attacked by two men in a ginnel off Bartle Lane, Great Horton , as they walked home.

The older woman suffered minor injuries to her shoulder and arm when she was dragged to the ground as the muggers tried to pull gold bangles from her wrist. The suspects were Asian men dressed in black.

In the third incident, at 3.15pm on Sunday, August 5, a woman in her 20s had two gold necklaces, valued at £1,000, pulled from her neck in Bradford Lane, near to Thornbury Street, Laisterdyke , as she and a female relative walked home after buying fabric from a nearby shop for Eid.

Her relative screamed and ran for help. The suspect, an Asian man wearing a cream baseball cap and blue and cream striped hooded top, was chased but is believed to have fled down a snicket leading to Raglan Terrace.

Det Insp Bryar said: “If you know who is committing these crimes, or have information which could assist our investigations, please contact us immediately on the non-emergency number 101, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.”