Warning as Bridgnorth shoppers targeted by bank card thieves
Shoppers in Bridgnorth are being targeted by thieves who are stealing credit cards from purses.
In one instance the victim's bank cards were replaced by cards belonging to other people. She had been approached by a couple asking for directions to the M6 while she was unloading her shopping from her car at home.
Another woman only realised her cards had been taken while she was on the way home on a bus.
People shopping in Bridgnorth are being urged to take extra care of their purses, wallets and handbags following the thefts.
The first woman had been shopping in Low Town and was approached outside her home while her bags and handbag were in the boot of her car.
she was approached by a woman who asked for directions to the M6. She was then joined by a male with a large map and the man then opened out the map across the victim's car boot.
Later the victim was informed that there had been a fraudulent withdrawal of large sums of money from a savings account. The women then discovered that several cards were missing from her purse and they had been replaced by a stranger's cards.
The couple who approached the woman in Danesbridge were described as not English with both having light brown skin. The woman had dark hair and was possibly aged 35, while the man wore a long raincoat and stood about five foot seven inches tall, a bit shorter than the female he was with.
The second woman had visited a bank, cash machine and a supermarket when she realised on the bus home that her cards had been taken. Later she was informed by her bank that fraudulent attempts had been made to use the cards stolen from her purse.
The shopper could not recall anything suspicious happening while she was in town.
Both thefts happened on February 12 and police have urged people to be alert and vigilant when using debit or credit cards in busy town centres and to always ensure that purses, wallets and handbags are kept secure.
Anyone with information should contact the police on 101, quoting incident 0374s of February 13 for the Danesbridge theft and 0264s of February 12 for the second theft.
