Distraction thieves steal £200 from Newport OAP

Thieves have attempted to steal handbags from victims after distracting them.

The warning comes after two men stole £200 from a 74-year-old woman who had just drawn the money out of a cashpoint at the HSBC bank in the High Street on Wednesday at about 10am.

Pc Lee Thomas, of West Mercia Police, said: "It appeared neither male spoke English, and the victim was left with the impression they were asking for directions to a bank.

"One of the males put a piece of card over the screen of the machine while the lady was using it and the other distracted her attention away from what she was doing.

"At first the lady didn't realise what had happened but a member of the public sensed something was wrong and told her to check with her bank.

"Upon doing so, the victim has found that £200 had been withdrawn from the cash machine without her knowledge."

He added: "The whole incident only lasted a matter of seconds and the two males then walked off in the direction of New Street car park.

"However, from our early enquiries we understand that the males had been hanging around nearby for some considerable amount of time beforehand. We advise everyone to be vigilant if they approached by strangers, and call police if they spot such suspicious activity."

The men are described are both described as in their late teens or early twenties and of Eastern European appearance.

One is described as wearing a leather jacket and faded jeans. The other was wearing a black jacket and grey jogging bottoms.

Earlier this month, there were reports of a woman who allegedly had her handbag stolen from her car after she was distracted by two men in Newport.

The woman said her bag was snatched as she was getting into her car at the town's Waitrose store and two men started talking to her.

A third man then opened her passenger door and took her bag off the seat, she said.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.