Police release image following Bognor distraction thefts
Anyone who recognises the man in the picture is asked to call 101
Police investigation a series of distraction thefts in Bognor Regis have released an image of a man they want to speak to.
Officers are treating three incidents, which all reportedly took place in supermarket car parks, as linked.
On Saturday (20 March) at 1.15pm, an elderly woman was unloading her shopping in Tesco on Shripney Road when a man asked for help with his car. Later the woman noticed her wallet missing from her handbag. She went to cancel her cards but found £490 had been spent.
A similar incident happened on Thursday 18 February, at around 3.15pm. A woman was again unloading her trolley this time at Sainsbury's in Shripney Road when a man approached her saying his car was broken. The woman noticed another man take her purse from her handbag. It was put back and the men left the scene.
On Sunday 7 February, a man approached another woman unloading shopping outside the Sainsbury's store who said she had a scratch on her car. Later that day she found her bank card had been stolen and £1900 spent.
PCSO Lisa Fowler said: "These incidents have had a significant impact on the victims and we are keen to identify the suspect pictured.
"If you have seen this man or know who he is, then we would like to know so we can speak to him about these thefts.