Women shoppers targeted in distraction thefts

Police are warning women shoppers to be vigilant after a series of distraction thefts in supermarket car parks in Devon and Cornwall.

Officers are investigating at least five reports this week where lone females have been targeted in Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Saltash while loading shopping into their cars.

In each case the woman has been approached by a man asking for directions, usually to the local Post Office. Some have been asked to draw a map on a notepad supplied by the offender.

While the victim is distracted a male or female accomplice has entered the victim’s car and stolen from their handbag or purse. Some of the stolen credit and debit cards have then been used fraudulently.

None of the women were threatened or physically harmed during the thefts but one victim was defrauded of £11,000 after her bank card was stolen.

The offenders struck three times at different supermarkets across Plymouth on Wednesday 29 July.

Around 11.30am two male offenders approached a 47-year-old Plymouth woman in the car park of Tesco at Woolwell and asked for directions to the local Post Office.

While the woman was distracted one man entered her Vauxhall Astra and emptied the contents of her handbag on the back seat. No items were taken.

Later the same day, between 5pm and 7pm, a 56-year-old Plymouth woman fell victim to the distraction offence at Sainsbury’s car park at Crabtree, Plymouth. Cash and debits cards were removed from her purse on the front seat of her black Hyundai car.

The offenders then struck at Asda in Estover between 6.15pm and 6.25pm. A 50-year-old Plymouth woman was again approached for directions and asked to draw a map. She later discovered that her bank card had been taken from her car and £80 had been taken from her account.

A fourth offence happened at Tesco car park in Kingsteignton around 5.30pm. A 68-year-old Newton Abbot woman was targeted by a man who asked for directions and asked her to draw a map.

Another man was spotted leaning into her red Volkswagen car by a female witness in the car park who alerted the driver. However the offenders managed to get away with £30 from her purse.

On Thursday 30 July, a 53-year-old Saltash woman was approached by a man in Lidl car park in Gilston Road sometime between noon and 5pm. Her debit card was removed from her purse in the car and later used to buy goods valued up to £11,000.

The offences are being linked and police are seeking the offenders, one of which is described as aged in his 30s to 40s, around 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build with short black or dark hair. He is of Eastern European appearance, speaks with a foreign accent which is hard to understand and is always smartly dressed, usually in a suit.

Police are advising women to be on the lookout for the distraction technique and to report any suspicious activity to police.

Detective Sergeant Jamie Gilbert, from Charles Cross police station in Plymouth, said: “The offences are being linked by police. The offenders appear to be targeting women on their own while they are loading their cars with shopping at local supermarkets.

“It is important to stress that none of the women have been physically harmed during these thefts and the offenders are targeting them for money and bank cards from purses and handbags.

“We would ask women to be aware of this distraction technique which preys upon their good nature by asking for help with directions. This individual sounds very genuine and looks smart.

“We would ask anyone who is approached in this fashion to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour to police.

“Police are advising female shoppers to lock other car doors and windows while they are loading their groceries and to keep their handbags and purses on them."

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact police by phone on 101 or email on 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/52813/15.