POLICE are appealing for help from the public to trace two thieves who are preying on elderly and middle-aged women in Sandbach and Congleton. Officers have released CCTV images of a man and a woman they believe are responsible for five separate purse snatches between November 16 and March 17. The first happened at about 10.45am on November 16 in a shop next to Sandbach’s outdoor market on The Commons. A 72-year-old woman was shopping when she became aware of a man standing very close to her. She felt uneasy and returned home, only to discover her purse was missing from her handbag. She contacted her bank and was told £250 had been withdrawn from one of her cards at two separate ATMs in the town centre. Another £300 was withdrawn from a second card and a further £300 was spent at a Blockbusters store in Knutsford. In the second incident, at 11.45am on January 11, a 64-year-old woman was shopping for flowers at the outdoor market when she saw a couple discussing flowers nearby. The woman pushed into the victim’s left hand side where she was holding her bag and then put down the flowers she and her companion were carrying and walked away. The victim went to pay and realised her purse, containing £30 cash but no bank cards, had gone. On March 1 an 80-year-old woman reported her card stolen after shopping in the outdoor market at 11.15am. It was used to withdraw £500 within 40 minutes of the theft. Another woman, aged 54, was robbed of £450 after losing her purse at a charity shop in Congleton and a 70-year-old had her purse taken on March 17. A police spokesman, said: ‘We believe the same couple is responsible for each of these incidents. ‘The man is described as between 25 and 26 years old, 5ft 10in to 6ft, with dark hair and was smartly dressed. ‘The woman is described as being Asian, in her late 20s, 5ft 2in to 5ft 4in, of slim build with shoulder-length black hair. Both spoke with a northern accent. ‘Police in the Sandbach and Congleton area would like everybody to be on their guard, particularly when out shopping, and to ensure that any purses are kept secure and about the person.’ Anyone with any information should contact Darren Varley at Congleton Police on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. | 
Article
