A WARNING has gone out to shoppers in Droitwich after a distraction theft on November 29.
An Eastern European couple approached the person in a car park, claiming to be lost and asking for directions to the hospital.
The pair, a man and a woman, spoke little English and opened a large map which they placed over the bag. When they took the map back and left the woman discovered her purse had been taken.
A similar ruse was carried out several times in Droitwich last Christmas and police believe it could be the same people who have come back to try their luck again.
They usually target vulnerable or elderly people.
A police spokesperson said: “This was the first time it had happened this year but we wanted to get the warnings out early to make people aware this was happening.”
He urged residents to pass on the warning to their elderly or vulnerable friends, family members or neighbours to avoid people being duped.
Anyone with any information on the incident over the weekend or on other incidents should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
