Distraction Thieves Take £4,000 From Elderly Women Shoppers

West Mercia Police are alerting elderly women shoppers to be wary of being approached in supermarket car parks by a man or woman - or both - asking for directions, after more than £4,000 was later stolen from the accounts of nine victims.

The warning comes after four women - three in Worcester and one in Malvern - were targeted within two days this month by a man, or a man and a woman working together, and had their credit/debit/bank cards stolen, realising only later that a total of more than £2,000 had been quickly taken from their accounts.

Since the beginning of this year, a further £2,000 has been quickly taken from the accounts of five further victims after they were targeted by suspects, again believed to be of Eastern European and/or Italian origin.  There were two incidents in June and one each in April and February in Worcester, plus one in Evesham in January.

"These cynical and calculating criminals rely on the goodwill of their elderly victims being prepared to help a stranger find their way - only for them to callously cause them great personal distress by distracting them and taking cash, cards and personal belongings," a police spokesman said.

"While we don't want to stop people helping their fellow man - or woman - we urge the elderly and vulnerable to be extremely careful about letting anyone make close physical contact with them, providing the opportunity to steal from them, irrespective of how plausible they may seem.

"There may, of course, be additional people who have been targeted by these criminals, but who did not - fortunately - have anything stolen.

"We would, therefore, like to hear from anyone who now feels that they have been similarly approached as they might well have important information that could lead to this man and woman being identified and brought to justice."

The police should be contacted on 0300 333 3000, quoting 524S/160710. Information can also be given - anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The incidents, which are all being investigated as thefts from vehicles, were:

• 16 January - Tesco, Worcester Road, Evesham (£20 later stolen);
• 10 February and 14 April - Sainsbury's, Windermere Drive, Worcester (£350 and £750);

• 7 June and 26 June - Tesco, Mill Wood Drive, Warndon, Worcester  (£300 and £600 later);

• 15 July - Tesco, St Peters Drive, Worcester (£250);
• 16 July - Tesco, St Peters Drive and Mill Wood Drive, and Morrisons, Roman Way, Malvern (£500, £938 and £435).

• For more information on how you can keep your purse safe from theft, visit or Advice Centre.
  

Issued: Friday 30 July 2010