A CCTV image has been released of two people Surrey Police would like to speak to in connection with a spate of distraction card thefts in supermarkets in Leatherhead and across the county.
Officers are also urging elderly and vulnerable people to be on their guard following the thefts, which are believed to have been carried out by a couple who watch the victim put their pin number in the store, then steal the card using a distraction technique.
The offenders have targeted supermarkets in Leatherhead, Cobham and West Byfleet but it is believed they have been responsible for more.
Similar thefts have been reported in Morrisons stores in Reigate and Oxted in recent months.
The thefts reported so far all took place on April 8, with the first one taking place in the Waitrose car park in Station Approach, West Byfleet at 2.35pm.
A woman approached an elderly man who was putting his shopping in the boot of his car and said he had dropped £10. She then asked him if he had change and asked for two £5 notes.
The man got his wallet out and the woman looked through it with him to see if he had any change. After she had walked off, the victim realised she had taken his credit card.
The victim also noticed the woman appeared to be with a male accomplice. The card was later used to try and withdraw £300 from his bank account. However, the suspects entered the wrong PIN number and did not manage to withdraw any money.
A similar incident took place at Sainsbury's in High Street, Leatherhead, between 12-30pm and 2pm on 8 April, although the offenders did not manage to escape with any money on this occasion.
The offender approached the elderly female victim , pushed her in the back and apologised before walking off with her purse.
The offender's female accomplice then returned the purse asking for change for a £10 note. Meanwhile, the victim noticed her credit card was missing, and the suspect pretended to drop it on the floor before handing it back to the victim.
Officers are also investigating a third offence at the Sainsbury's supermarket in Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, just after 2pm. The couple watched the elderly woman enter her pin number after she used her card to pay for some items at the tobacco kiosk before following her out to the car park and telling her that she had dropped a £10 note.
The female suspect then took the victim's purse, putting the £10m note inside and removing the debit card at the same time. The male suspect then asked for directions to the train station before leaving with his female accomplice. They later used the card to withdraw £180 cash.
The female suspect is described as white, around 30 years, of Mediterranean appearance, with dark hair. She was wearing a bright pink scarf and a long dark coat. The male suspect is described as white, in his 30s, with short dark hair and was wearing a green jumper, a khaki blazer, blue jeans and white trainers.
PC Hayden Barwick, who is investigating the offences, said: "This couple has deliberately targeted elderly people and already got away with a significant amount of cash. They must be stopped before they dupe any more vulnerable members of our local communities.
"I would like to urge people to stay vigilant when they are out and about, particularly when they are using their cash cards in public places and please remember to always shield your PIN number.
"I have released this image in the hope that someone may recognise this couple and come forward. I would also like to appeal to anyone with any information which could assist with the investigation to come forward straightaway."
If you can help,contact PC Barwick at Surrey Police on 101, quoting crime reference WK/13/2024 or call Crimestoppers annoymously on 0800 555 111.
