Hamilton police Sergeant Mark Phillips said a 17-year-old boy found a purse that was believed to have been dropped on the ground by a woman on Flinders Street in Hamilton on Monday evening.

“The boy has come along and found (the purse) on the ground. He’s then rifled through it, stolen some cash and ditched it,” he said. 

“Someone saw the boy and called us. We have since taken him into custody and he will be interviewed.” 

Sergeant Phillips said the teenager stole about $70 in cash.

He is expected to be charged with theft. 

In an unrelated incident, Warrnambool police are investigating a single vehicle collision that occurred at the Homemaker Centre in Warrnambool about 12pm on Monday. 

Warrnambool police said a minor bingle occurred when a car, which was travelling on Raglan Parade, ran off the road and into a sign. 

The incident caused minor damage to the vehicle and the driver was not injured.