Appeal for information following distraction theft in Cirencester

Police are appealing for information after a thief stole thousands of pounds from a woman's bank account following a distraction theft in Cirencester last week.

The incident occurred in Waitrose car park on Sheep Street between 9.30am and 9.45am on Friday 31 January.

The victim, who is in her 80s, was walking back to her car when a man approached her and asked her for directions to Swindon.

He asked her to repeat the directions multiple times and then distracted her while he stole a card holder from her handbag which was on her shoulder.

The man then used the victim's bank cards to make multiple withdrawals from her bank account, as well as online purchases. It is believed that someone watched her enter her PIN during a transaction while shopping in the store.

The victim has been left shaken by the ordeal.

The suspect is described as being white, aged around 60 and of a slim build. He was wearing a light-weight black bomber jacket, glasses and spoke with a foreign accent.

Inspector Simon Ellson from the Cotswold Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "This was a deplorable incident which has understandably been very upsetting for the victim.

"I would urge people to be vigilant to this type of theft and to be wary if approached by an unknown person in a supermarket car park.

"Thieves can use a variety of distraction tactics to commit these crimes such as asking for information, offering to help unload your shopping or claiming that they saw someone hit your car and showing you the damage.

"They may also claim they are working for a charity or are collecting signatures for a petition and will use the opportunity to get physically close to the victims to either steal a watch, jewellery or wallets and purses.

"Please always report any suspicious behaviour to us by calling 101 or 999 if a crime in in progress."

CCTV enquiries have taken place and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed what happened, has any information or recognises the description of the offender is asked to complete the following online form quoting incident number 172 of 2 February: October: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ 

If you would like to report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.