room over the weekend.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said the woman was awaken around 4 a.m.

yesterday by a noise inside her room at the Reefs Hotel in Southampton.

The woman discovered a man had gained access to her room and was rummaging through her handbag.

On being disturbed, the culprit jumped over the balcony and escaped with her bag. The woman's wallet -- less a quantity of cash -- and bag were later recovered.