Police
believe these two women acted together to cut open a 93 year-old
woman's trolley in Croydon to snatch £1,000 cash she just withdrew
from a bank.
At
approximately 11.20am on Tuesday, April 2, the pensioner withdrew the
cash from a bank on North End.
She
placed the money – which was in an envelope – inside her shopping
trolley and this transaction was witnessed by one of the female
suspects.
The
woman left the bank and was followed by the two suspects as she
walked along Church Street.
The
suspects continued to follow the victim as she visited a number of
local shops and made a number of attempts to distract her.
At
11.42am, one of the suspects was captured on CCTV footage bending
down next to the woman’s shopping trolley.
A
short time later, the victim discovered that the trolley had been cut
and the money taken.
Police
were contacted and officers from the South Area Command Unit launched
an investigation.
CCTV
images were secured, and detectives have today released images of the
two women they are trying to identify.
Suspect
1 is of slim build with long black hair. She was wearing a grey
mid-length coat, black trousers and white trainers. She was carrying
a black, over the shoulder handbag.
Suspect
2 is shorter, and of larger build with long black hair. She was
wearing a red hooded jumper with blue and white stripes on the upper
arm, a black jacket, black trousers and black trainers.
At
the time of the theft, they were both wearing headscarves, although
officers believe these were put on outside the shop in an attempt to
disguise their appearance.
Detective
Constable Ciara Riordan, based in Croydon, said: “We
believe that the suspects saw the victim at the bank counter as they
were passing and deliberately targeted her.
“The
victim, who was very independent prior to this crime, is now anxious
about leaving her house and will only go shopping with her grandson.
“I
would urge anyone who recognises these women to contact us so that we
can prevent them from targeting other vulnerable members of our
community.”
There
have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Anyone
with information about the identity of the two suspects should call
DC Ciara Riordan on 020 3276 2217 or by email on
ciara.riordan@met.police.uk
Alternatively,
they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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