Sir.-To the thief who stole my handbag from B&Q car park on the afternoon of Monday, October 18 - I hope you enjoy spending my hard-earned cash and the vouchers which were to be used to buy Christmas presents for my family.

As for all the personal and sentimental items in the bag, those can never be replaced.

I hope you never have to experience the inconvenience and the problems that such a theft can cause and the thought that someone has violated your privacy.

-Name and address withheld.