Woman hugged man, 88, to distract from theft

A thief thought to be posing as a charity worker stole money from an elderly man while hugging him as a distraction tactic, police have said.

The 88-year-old victim was in his car in a Waitrose car park in Saffron Walden, Essex. The woman placed a clipboard on his steering wheel and drew on it. Believing she was asking for a charity donation, the man gave her £5. The woman then hugged him.

After doing a supermarket shop, the man realised a three-figure sum of money was missing from his pocket.