AN ELDERLY woman says she has been struggling to sleep since she was targeted by distraction thieves.
Sheila Hammond-Gabbitas said she was sat in her car in a disabled bay in Morrisons car park in Reigate at around 2pm last Tuesday when a man approached the driver's door.
The 87-year-old, who had just bought shopping and some stamps, said: "I got into my car and a fellow approached me, a very large fellow, and asked me lots of questions about where he was.
"I got out of the car. I left my handbag on the driver's seat."
The man asked Mrs Hammond-Gabbitas for directions which she wrote down for him, before getting back into her car and driving home.
When she arrived home at Royal Earlswoood Park, Mrs Hammond-Gabbitas says her telephone was ringing and staff from Nationwide were on the line. They said £300 had been withdrawn from her bank account and other transactions had been attempted.
She added: "They told me about the spending and asked me questions. I went to get my card out of my bag but it wasn't there, it was gone."
Mrs Hammond-Gabbitas believes the card was taken when she left her vehicle to give directions to the man.
"There was obviously somebody else involved and how they got into my handbag and got the card out in that time I do not know," she said. "It's a mystery and I cannot sleep for thinking about it."
The following day, Mrs Hammond-Gabbitas reported the incident to Surrey Police, who are now investigating.
Spokeswoman Dawn Groom said: "A man officers would like to trace in connection with this incident is described as white, with a French accent, tall, of big build with short dark hair and was wearing a dark coloured suit. It is not known whether this man was connected to the theft or not."
The incident has shaken Mrs Hammond-Gabbitas. She said: "I just think if he has been around doing that sort of thing [then people need to know].
"I think when you are old you are very vulnerable and I think this is one of the problems, they watch for older people. There must have been more than one at it, it's quite incredible."
She added: "Being a vulnerable person I'm elderly and I was in the disabled parking space. He has obviously followed me.
"How they managed to get into my bag without me seeing is a mystery. There's three zips to get to my purse."
Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference P14352593.
