Supermarket distraction crimes on the rise across Sussex

Sussex Police are investigating a growing number of distraction crimes at supermarkets across the county and believe that the same gang could be responsible for many of them.

Since January, there have been 23 distraction offences in or around supermarkets and these have risen sharply from three in January, six in February to 14 in March. The same method has been used in 18 cases with victims being approached by one or two men or a man and a woman asking directions to the nearest hospital as their sister has been in an accident or they need to get insulin.

Victims are followed around the supermarket and watched when they use their financial cards. The victim is either beckoned over to the suspects car or blocked by the car. While they show them the route on the map another suspect steals cards from the victim's car and withdrawals are subsequently made from a nearby cash machine, often one at the supermarket.

Another method is for a man to approach a victim claiming that he's seen them drop £10. When they check their wallets, he steals cards. In Lewes, a woman got off a bus near the prison, having been shopping in Waitrose in the town, and was approached by three men asking for directions. She later discovered that her card had been stolen and it was established that a member of supermarket staff had seen a man watching her enter a PIN. This was corroborated by CCTV.

Offences have occurred across Sussex with five in Burgess Hill and four each in Eastbourne and Lewes. Bexhill-on-Sea, Crawley, Horsham, Pulborough, Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing have also been targeted with Tesco car parks featuring in 16 of the cases. Other stores have included B&Q, Sainsburys and Morrisons.

The victims are predominantly late middle-aged to elderly lone females with the offences taking place mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 3pm.

The suspects are described as eastern European, Mediterranean, Turkish or Polish with descriptions indicating at least two main offenders. Ages of the men range from 20-40, all with short dark hair. When a woman has been present she has been described as Asian or eastern European, aged 20-30 with long dark hair in a ponytail.

Up to seven different vehicles have been identified as being used in the offences. The most common report is of a beige/fawn coloured vehicle, either P registered or with the part index T284. Another common description is of a blue car, possibly a Vauxhall Vectra. Other vehicles have been a Vauxhall-sized silver car with orange spoilers, a red car, a white 4x4, a pale grey people carrier and a white hatchback.

Police are warning people to be cautious about any unexpected approaches while out shopping, especially around supermarkets, and also to be very guarded about entering PINs at any location. Take care not to allow other people to see your number.

Anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious of this nature or who has information about the people involved is asked to contact 0845 60 70 999 quoting 1055 of 16/03.