Information on Loughborough

Two distraction thefts in Loughborough and Melton

Posted on 27/10/2008

Police in north Leicestershire are appealing for witnesses following two distraction thefts.

Both incidents happened on Thursday October 16 after the victims had made a trip to the bank.

The first incident happened in Loughborough at around 1pm after the victim left the bank and walked along Market Street. She felt something hit her back but thought nothing off it and continued walking.

When she reached the traffic lights at the junction Ashby Road a woman got her attention saying she had something on her back. She was then approached by a man who proceeded to wipe her back with tissues.

She continued to her car which was parked at Sainsbury’s and was approached again by a man who tried to wipe her back. She got into her car and returned to work where she discovered her bag had been slashed open but nothing had been taken.

 The second incident took place later the same day at around 2.30pm in the Bell centre car park in Melton Mowbray.

Again the victim had been to the bank and was returning to her car when a man and a woman approached her saying she had something in her hair.

They then both proceeded to help the victim wiping her hair with tissues. When she returned home she realised that two envelopes containing money had been taken from her bag.

Police are treating these as linked incidents and have been working closely with local businesses and exploring the possibility of CCTV evidence.

Detective Constable Sam Stevens, who is investigating this incident, said: “We cannot ignore the possibility that these two incidents are linked and that there may be more than two people involved.

“We’d be keen to speak to anyone who thinks they may have witnessed either of these incidents or anyone who remembers any suspicious activity around the banks or car parks.

“There’s also the possibility other people may have had similar experiences but not had anything stolen. I’d be keen to speak to them too as they may remember details about the people involved that helps our investigation.”

The man has been described as tanned, in his sixties, around 5’8” tall and clean shaven. He had very short close cropped dark hair and spoke with an eastern European accent. He was wearing a white shirt and dark trousers.

The woman is said to be in her late fifties, around 5’2” in height, with short black hair and an eastern European accent. She wore a thigh length black jacket with dark trousers.

DC Stevens added: “We’d also urge people to be vigilant to this kind of distraction theft and extra careful about the security of their personal belongings. The victims of these crimes genuinely thought that this couple were trying to help them and the suspects use this to their advantage, getting closer to the victims than they would normally be able.

"If people become alert to this ruse then hopefully we can try and prevent it happening again.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC 4411 Sam Stevens on Leicester (0116) 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message for a police officer and when prompted key in the officer's identification number 4411. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers, which is free* and anonymous on 0800 555 111.

* Please note, some mobile ‘phone service providers may charge for this call

Issued on 27/10/08 at 12:02
Crime reference number: NM/03121/08-8 and NL/07197/08-0