Warning issued to Oswestry shoppers following distraction theft
Police have issued a warning for shoppers to be on their guard after two distraction crimes in Oswestry.
A young couple, thought to be Eastern European, targeted shoppers at the town's Morrisons and Aldi supermarkets.
They stole £50 from a woman at Morrisons in Oswald Road just after 10am today and within minutes attempted to steal a bank card from a man in Aldi's car park, Beatrice Street.
In the first incident, the woman was at the checkout till having received £50 cash-back when the suspects approached and while distracting her, stole the money from her pocket.
The male victim was getting into his car when approached by a young woman and man. She told him he had dropped a £10 note and when checking his wallet, she put a £10 note on the wallet while at the same time removing his bank card.
She was spotted and challenged by the victim who managed to grab his card back. The couple then quickly left the area.
The woman was described as being in her twenties or thirties, about five feet tall, slightly built with long dark hair, possibly tied in a ponytail. She was wearing a long white coat. Her accomplice was of similar age, about 5ft 7ins tall, also of slight build with dark hair and wearing dark clothes.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "We are urging people to be wary and on their guard against being approached. The two incidents are clearly linked and in both cases attempts were made to distract the victims to seize money or bank cards.
"We are also appealing for any information which might help us identify the culprits. Contact Oswestry police station on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."
