Beware of handbag thieves in shopping centres.

Two woman shoppers had their handbags with valuables of almost $2,000 stolen right under their noses in the last two days.

In the first incident, a woman in her late 20s had her white bag stolen while she was having dinner at Tiong Bahru Plaza on Wednesday evening between 7.30 pm and 8.30pm.

The bag contained $700 in cash and a mobile phone worth $300.

In the second case, an elderly woman in her 70s discovered her handbag unzipped and a brown wallet missing while she was making payment at the OG shopping centre in Waterloo Street on Thursday morning.

She lost around $1,000 in cash and personal documents.

Anybody with information should contact the police at 1800-255-0000.