Officers have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to following a distraction theft in Royston.
The theft took place on Tuesday, September 27. An elderly woman had her bank card stolen in Tesco car park on Old North Road, after withdrawing cash and returning to her car.
As she returned to her vehicle, a woman approached her and asked her to help put her trolley away. In doing so, the victim put her handbag on the passenger seat of her car.
A male then approached the victim explaining that his dog was in his car and was sick and asking if there was a vet nearby.
The victim provided directions to the closest vets, and the man asked her to write the information down.
While she did so, another unknown male stole the victim's bank card from her bag and ran towards the entrance of Tesco. Both men were then nowhere to be seen.
A cash withdrawal was then made using the victim's bank card at around 2pm on the same day, at the Post Office in Queens Road.
PC Catherine Button, who is investigating, said: "We are doing everything we can to trace the individuals involved.
"We are therefore asking for the public’s help to identify the man in the image as we believe he has important information that could help with our inquiries.
"I encourage people to take extra care of their wallets and purses when they are out shopping.
"Unfortunately, these kinds of thefts often take place in car parks, as shoppers are easy to distract, and the fake scenarios used are easily believable.
"If anyone has any information that could help with our investigation, please contact me at Catherine.Button@herts.police.uk."
You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via the online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/79010/22.
Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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