CCTV appeal following distraction theft of elderly woman in Gloucester

Police are appealing for information to help identify a group of people they believe stole an elderly woman’s purse in Gloucester.

It was reported that a woman in her late 70s was pickpocketed of her purse while shopping on Eastgate Street.

The victim reported noticing a group of people loitering around her and asking questions while inside several shops and at the bank before later discovering that her purse had gone.

The theft was reported as taking place between 1.40pm and 2.10pm on Saturday 15 June and saw offenders go on to use the victim’s bank card to withdraw £800 from a nearby cashpoint.

Officers have conducted a number of enquiries since the incident, but are yet to identify the group pictured, and are now asking for information from the public.

Anyone who recognises any of the people pictured or has information on what happened is asked to complete the following online form quoting incident 203 of 15 June: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/