Cash theft trick warning

Victim targeted in bank visit

A WOMAN was robbed after withdrawing a large sum of cash from a bank in Elche, when three people tapped on her car window to tell her she had dropped some money as a distraction.

The National Police reported that the thieves were two men and a woman ‘of South American appearance’.

The victim, who dealt in jewellery, had been selected in the bank by one of the thieves, who was standing a few metres away, well dressed and wearing glasses, under the pretence of having to change a €50 note.

He saw her take out a lot of cash and alerted his colleagues to follow her, then spread a few of his €5 notes from the bank on the ground and made the victim think they were hers.

When she got out to pick them up, they stole her bag from the passenger seat and ran away with money and jewellery worth over €10,000.

She chased them and came across a police patrol, who managed to catch the female suspect and called in descriptions of the two men.

One was found on a nearby street, still wearing the same clothes but trying to disguise his appearance with accessories.

The suspects, a 29-year-old Cuban woman and a Colombian man aged 59, have long police records for similar offences.

The investigation remains open to catch the other suspect and anyone else involved, as well as to determine if they were responsible

for other similar robberies in the city.

The police warned that this is a commonly used trick and recommended that people take precautions in banks, not trust strangers, always lock their vehicle and never leave objects in view on the seats.