Distraction thieves steal credit card from couple

THREE thieves used an elaborate distraction set-up to steal a credit card from an elderly couple.

Two men targeted and distracted an 80-year-old man and his wife, while a third rifled through the woman’s handbag to grab the card.

The incident happened as the couple left Tesco in Huntingdon after finishing their shopping at about 4pm on Wednesday (June 8).

A woman approached them and asked for directions to Birmingham. The female victim , 69, spoke to the woman while her husband went to their car and reversed out of a parking bay.

As he did so, a man knocked on the car window and asked for directions to a nearby gym. The husband got out of the car to give directions, at which point his wife alerted him to a second man who had got into the car.

When he was challenged, the man in the car ran away with his accomplices, and the victims discovered a credit card had been taken from the woman’s purse.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, and have released descriptions of the three thieves.

The woman, who wore smart-casual clothing, was described as blonde, 5ft 6in, of medium build, with an Eastern European accent.

The man who asked for directions wore neat casual clothing and a dark grey zip-up sweater, and was described as having a swarthy complexion, with short dark hair and an Eastern European accent.

The second man was described as stocky and wearing a pale blue shirt and dark trousers.

PC James Bowen, investigating, said: “This was a shameful crime committed against a couple who had clearly been singled out.

“I would appeal for anyone who visited Tesco on Wednesday to consider if they may have seen something significant and to contact police if they have anything that could help.”

INFORMATION: Anyone with information should contact PC Bowen, at Huntingdon Police Station, on 0345 456 456 4, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.