Elderly Fife shoppers hit by gang of thieves in supermarkets

A gang of thieves targeted elderly shoppers in Fife supermarkets by watching them type their pins then stealing their purses.

Three people fell foul in one day in Cupar, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy and had money withdrawn from their accounts.

Police have warned the public to be on their guard for the woman and two men suspected of what they termed distraction thefts.

After their bank card numbers were obtained on Monday, the victims were distracted by one of the three suspects asking for directions while another stole their purses.

Police appealed for help in catching the thieves, who were all wearing Parka-style jackets.

Sergeant Sharon Holmes, of Cupar Police Station, said: “Please make sure you shield your pin. If people are standing too close to you, then ask them to move away or stop your transaction.

“Safety items like bells attached to your purse are available to buy for 50p at most police offices via your local community team.”

The female suspect was described as in her thirties, with fair to midbrown hair worn in a ponytail. She was wearing a cream roll-neck jumper, Parka jacket and glasses. She may have spoken with an eastern European accent.

Both men were said to be 5ft 10in and wearing fur-trimmed Parka jackets, one of them in his forties or fifties and the other in his thirties.

The older man was stocky with grey hair and was also wearing a dark baseball cap and jeans. The younger man was slim with a dark complexion and stubble and was wearing a flat cap and ripped jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote incident numbers 2279 (Cupar), 0968 (Dunfermline) or 2094 (Kirkcaldy).

Make sure you shield your pin. If people are standing too close, ask them to moveaway