Warning after devious distraction theft at Lidl Supermarket costs pensioner £8,000

A woman had her bank cards stolen and her accounts emptied after a devious distraction theft at the new Lidl supermarket on Spotland Road.

The 63-year-old from Bamford was loading her car with groceries when she was approached by a man who struck up a conversation. He insisted that her car was broken and urged her to move round to the front to take a look, as a second party reached into the car and took her purse.

Though requesting to remain anonymous, the woman decided to come forward to Rochdale Online to warn others about what has happened after losing a total of £8,000.

She said: “There was a woman behind me when I was putting in my pin at the checkout. I remember thinking it was odd that she followed me when a new till opened and I moved over. Even then I didn’t think much of it, but later on when I realised what had happened, it all fell into place.

“The man in the car park was really insistent that something was wrong with my car, he told me it was his job to fix it. His English was very bad so I didn’t get all of what he was saying, but I went to him. My bag was behind the driver’s seat at the time but obviously I wasn’t thinking about that.

“I think it’s awful that these things are happening and people should be made aware.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a distraction theft took place in the car park of the supermarket and has warned for people to be vigilant.

Councillor Ian Duckworth said: “There seems to be a spate of clever distraction thefts going on in the area. This lady understandably doesn’t want to be identified but we have to get this out there and let people know what it going on.

“People should be warned about it, it seems like there is problem in the area.”

Another distraction theft took place on Tesco car park, Sudden, on 28 January:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100745/old-lady-tricked-and-robbed-on-tesco-car-park-sudden

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Rochdale police station on 101, or alternatively you can pass information to the police in confidence by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.