Police in Shropshire today warned shoppers to be alert to distraction thieves claiming they have ‘dropped £10' before stealing their bank cards.
Three incidents, one in Shrewsbury, one in Telford and another in Wellington, were reported to police on Thursday 17th January 2012.
Two of the offences happened in supermarkets and police believe all the incidents are linked and may have been committed by the same group of people.
Between about 11.20am and 11.30am in Morrison's, Whitchurch Road, a man paying for his shopping at the self-service checkout was approached by a man of Asian or Eastern European appearance, smartly dressed and with dark hair, who claimed he had dropped a £10 note.
Despite knowing he hadn't, following the persistence of the offender, the victim picked up the note to later hand it in at the customer service desk.
However, when he got to his car, he realised his debit card was stolen and on checking his account, £500 had been withdrawn from the Lloyds cash machine in Mount Pleasant Road.
It is believed the offender was also in company with another man and a woman of similar appearance.
A similar incident was reported to police in Telford just after midday, after a woman in Tesco on the Wrekin Retail Park also had her bank card stolen.
She had also been approached while at the tills by a man and woman described as Eastern European. The man again claimed she had dropped £10 and handed it back to her, only for her to realise a few minutes later that her credit card was gone.
The cards in both of the above incidents have now been cancelled.
And that same morning in Walker Street, Wellington, a woman who had just used a cash point was told the same thing and handed a note by a man, also in company with a woman.
As she walked away, the couple followed her and said she had misunderstood and taken their money, so she handed it back and he took hold of her purse, claiming she owed them more money.
However, a member of the public intervened to ask if she was alright and the suspects walked away without taking any of her bank cards.
In the Wellington incident, both suspects are described as of Eastern European appearance, in their 20s and not overly tall.
The man had very dark hair and tanned skin, was of slim build and was wearing a long, dark coat. The woman had lighter hair in a ponytail and was wearing a short skirt and a jacket.
Inspector Jamie Dunn, from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, urged shoppers to be alert to anyone trying to distract them while out and about.
"While not overly sophisticated, those carrying out this scam can be very convincing and insistent but people should not be taken in," he said.
"If anyone claims you have dropped something or tries to engage you in any kind of distracting conversation, stay alert and walk away. Report any suspicious incidents to police on 101 and if you are in a shop or store, alert staff immediately."
Anyone with information about the incidents above or recognises the descriptions of those involved is asked to contact police on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111, where operators do not even ask for your name.
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