CCTV appeal following distraction theft at supermarket 

Officers are releasing an image of a man they would like to identify as part of their inquiries following a distraction theft in North Herts. 

The incident happened on Tuesday, September 27 in the Tesco car park on Old North Road in Royston, where an elderly woman had her bank card stolen after withdrawing cash and returned to her car.     

As she returned to her vehicle, a woman approached the victim and asked her to help put her trolley away. In doing so, the victim has put her handbag on to the passenger seat of the car.

A man then approached the victim explaining that his dog is in his car and is sick and asked if there is a vet nearby. The victim provided directions to the closest vets, however, the man then asked her to write the information down.  

In doing so, another unknown male has stolen the victim's bank card from her bag and run towards the entrance of Tesco. Both males were then nowhere to be seen.  

Subsequently, a cash withdrawal was made using the victim's bank card at around 2pm that day at the Post Office on Queens Road.   

PC Catherine Button, who is investigating, said: "We are doing everything we can to trace the individuals involved. We are therefore asking for the public's help to identify the man in the image as we believe he has important information that could help with our inquiries.  

"I encourage people to take extra care of their wallets and purses when they are out shopping. Unfortunately, these kinds of thefts often take place in car parks, as shoppers are easy to distract, and the fake scenarios used are easily believable. 

"If anyone has any information that could help with our investigation, please contact me at [email protected]." 

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in their Force Communications Room via their online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/79010/22.