Warning as distraction thieves target OAPs

POLICE have issued a warning after thieves have been distracting pensioners and stealing jewellery or cash.

The cowardly thieves pulled a ring and necklaces from a 90-year-old woman in one incident on Hollins Road, Oldham, on Sunday, February 26.

They duped the woman by asking her for directions before they forced a ring from her finger and took three necklaces from around her neck.

In another incident two thieves approached a 66-year-old man at an ATM in Market Square, Royton, on Wednesday, February 8.

They told the victim he had dropped £10.

When the victim returned home he noticed his wallet and card had been stolen.

Greater Manchester Police have recorded 13 distraction thefts in the area from December 1, 2016, to February 28 this year. The thieves distract victims with a number of tactics, including offering people cheap jewellery and placing it on their hands or neck. They then steal the victim’s own jewellery in the process. The thieves have also been approaching people using cash machines and bump into them before stealing their cards, cash and wallets.

Both men and women have been going up to victims, sometimes holding a child, and asking hysterically where the nearest hospital is.

While their victim attempts to help they are then approached by more offenders, who steal their property.

The offenders are both men and women, aged between 20 and 40-yearsold, with olive toned skin and with foreign accents.

Det Insp James Faulkner, from GMP’s Oldham borough, said: “These are despicable crimes where the perpetrators prey on the trusting nature of innocent members of the public, targeting elderly people in particular. Although force was used in some of the incidents, thankfully no one has been seriously injured.”

Anyone with any information about these incidents, or the offenders, is urged to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.