Police release images in hunt for supermarket thieves (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Police release images in hunt for supermarket thieves

10:48am Wednesday 21st February 2007 in News By Gazette News Room

POLICE have released images of a man and woman after thieves allegedly targeted a child, stealing his Christmas money.

Nine-year-old Billy Dayson, of Kendal, told police nearly £50 had gone missing from a small plastic bank bag after he was approached by a man in the town's Asda supermarket on January 20.

Police say CCTV footage taken from security cameras inside the Burton Road store show a male and a female walk by the child and his friend - who were on a shopping trip with Billy's dad Tony - as they sat at the back of the checkouts at about 4.15pm.

According to police, the man then approached the youngsters at which point the victim claimed that he took items including the money, which was sitting on the ledge next to him. The footage then shows the male walk to the foyer where the female is waiting.

Billy's father said his son, who has special needs, was left "heartbroken" by the incident.

The man is described as tall with black hair, wearing a green jacket, jeans and black shoes.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information regarding the identification of either the male or female shown in the pictures is asked to contact Kendal Police on 0845-3300247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.

Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image.