POLICE are warning people about an ‘unusual’ crime that took place in Tavistock recently and are appealing for information.

A foreign-looking man approached a lady in the car park of a supermarket in Tavistock and asked her if she could give him change for a £2 coin. Looking back, the lady thinks the man was stood behind her in the queue in the shop, so he may have already had a look in her purse over her shoulder.

As she was looking through her purse for the change, the man bent down and appeared to pick up a £20 note, which he insisted she had dropped. Even though she insisted she had not, he put his hand into her purse to put the note inside, before walking off. Sensing something was very odd the lady checked her purse contents and found that her bank card had been removed from her purse. A check later on revealed that an attempt had been made to access her account using the card.

Police said this was the first crime of its type in Tavistock but was very specific and sounded like the sort of ploy used by organised groups elsewhere in the country, so warned to be aware if anyone asks for change or otherwise tries to get you to open your purse or wallet.

Police would like to speak to a man who is described as being ‘dark and swarthy’, with dark hair and a round face. He’s believed to be in his 30s, of chunky build and spoke with a foreign accent that the victim could not identify.

Anyone with information relating to this incident should contact police on 101, quoting crime reference number CR/15287/17.