UNIFORMED and plain-clothed officers are being sent out and about in Droitwich in a bid to clamp down and prevent distraction thefts after more happened in the town.
The officers will point out to people if they are leaving their purses or wallets in vulnerable places as they are shopping and they will hand out purse bells which ring when pickpockets try to steal items.
In the latest incident, a purse was stolen from a woman’s handbag that had been placed on a trolley in Waitrose, The Saltway.
It happened between 9.30am and 11.15am on Monday (April 4) when a white man with a foreign accent distracted the victim by asking her about the price of sugar. He was in his late 40s, quite stocky, had a clear complexion and was wearing glasses. He also had very short cropped hair, was 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing a dark coat coat. The large black Radley purse contained two £5 notes and various bank cards.
On Saturday (April 2) between 10am and 10.40am, a green leather Gucci purse was stolen from a woman as she shopped in Waitrose.
It contained a quantity of cash and various bank cards.
At 5.45pm last Friday (April 1), a man went back to his car on The Saltway when he was approached by a couple with a map.
They did not speak much English and asked for directions to Birmingham. While the victim gave directions to the woman, it is believed the man stole a debit card from the man’s wallet.
The woman had brown hair, was wearing a light top and had a foreign accent.
The man was 5ft 10ins and was wearing a white jumper and possibly blue trousers. Both were in their 40s.
Sgt Sarah Kent from Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) said as there was no particular pattern to the thefts she believed they were being carried out by different people or groups of people who were not from the town and were deliberately coming here to target vulnerable residents.
She added: “We’re often too trusting in this country and always willing to help people but residents need to be careful and be aware of who is around them.”
She said residents should be wary of people asking for help with anything and of people getting too close. She urged people to keep their purses, wallets and valuables close to them at all times and not to leave them away from their person, for example on trolleys.
Witnesses to any of the incidents or anyone with any information on distraction thefts should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
