Warning issued following distraction theft in Northwich

Police in Cheshire are warning residents to remain vigilant following a report of a distraction theft in Northwich.

The incident occurred at around 1.30pm on Thursday 6 July on the carpark outside Waitrose on London Road.

The victim was loading their shopping into her car when an unknown man approached her and told her there was a scratch on her vehicle.

As he was distracting the victim, he reached into the vehicle and stole the victim's purse.

Thankfully, the victim quickly became aware and was able to cancel all her cards before any cash was stolen.

The suspect is described a middle-aged man of Middle Eastern/Asian origin.

Following the incident, police are keen to remind the public to be vigilant and take steps to keep them safe from thieves.

Detective Sergeant Jordan Trentini said:

“Enquiries in relation to this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone with any information which may aid our investigation to get in touch.

“The same goes for anyone who believes that they may have been targeted.

“I would also like to urge residents in the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, it’s also important to check your bank statements for any inaccuracies or discrepancies, as credit card fraud may not be immediately apparent."

Anyone who sees suspicious activity or had any information should contact Cheshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.