POLICE are warning shoppers in South Lakeland to be extra vigilant after a spate of distraction and ‘shoulder-surfing’ thefts.

Officers are investigating six reports of this type of crime which all took place on Thursday and Friday of last week.

All of those targeted have been lone women with the youngest being 68 and the oldest 88.

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Police say the 88-year-old woman was returning to her car in the Booths, Windermere, car park when she was approached by a man who said she had a wire hanging from beneath her car.

He suggested she raise the bonnet and assisted her in looking under it. She later realised that her bank card had been stolen and £2,000 taken from her account.

The same technique was used on a 76-year-old woman on the car park at Booths, Milnthorpe. She had £800 taken from her account.

The  68-year-old woman was approached by a man while at her car in Morrisons, Kendal, car park. He asked for directions and asked if she could draw a map for him. Later she realised her bank card had been stolen and more than £1,800 taken from her account.

PC Christine Nelson said: “We want to remind everyone to be extra vigilant and to have a higher sense of security when they are out shopping. We would also remind people not to leave bank cards or purses in an open shopping bag – make sure they are in a zipped pocket.

“All those targeted have been women over the age of 68 who have been out on their own, so if you have family, friends or neighbours in that category we would ask that you make sure they are aware of the warning too.”

One of the potential suspects is believed to be a male in his mid-40s, around 6ft tall, wearing a dark jacket and jeans.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incidents should contact Cumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.