Purse thieves target OAP in car park

Police have warned shoppers to be on their guard after two men, both believed to be of Eastern European origin, distracted the woman and stoler her purse.

She was loading shopping into her beige Nissan Qashqai last Thursday around 4.20pm in the car park of Longridge’s Sainsbury’s store on Inglewhite Road when the crime happened.

A police spokesman said one of the men asked the woman, who is retired and from Goosnargh, for directions.

While she was talking, the second man took her purse – containing a small amount of money and cards – from her handbag in her car.

One man is described as between 5ft10ins and 6ft tall and of medium build, and the other as shorter, around 5ft6ins tall and of stockier build.

Both were said to have Eastern European looks and accents and are believed to be aged in their 40s.

The spokesman said police believe the incident could be linked to a similar one a week earlier at Morrisions in Deepdale, Preston, the men answering similar descriptions.

The spokesman described the incident as “unusual for Longridge” but said it wasn’t the first time these men had carried out such a theft.

He said: “They are well practised and people should be aware. We are studying CCTV from the shop.

“I have no doubt they have done it elsewhere. Beware, be mindful if strangers approach you and I am sure they have different patters for different situations.”

If you were in the area at the time of the incident, or noticed anything at all suspicious, then please contact Longridge police on 01772 209583 quoting log ref LC-20160303-1113.

Alternatively, call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.