Thieves have been targetting shoppers in supermarkets across Bracknell by using distraction techniques.

Thames Valley Police has had multiple reports of thieves with 'Eastern European accents' targetting female shoppers by distracting them by talking, while another thief quickly steals their handbag or wallet from their car.

Police are recording this crime as 'supermarket car park distraction thieves'.

Thieves have been preying on shoppers who enter a store with a handbag, purse or wallet. They follow the victim through the store and stay close by as they watch them enter their PIN number and pay at the till.

Bracknell News: Supermarkets Supermarkets

Having obtained the PIN number, two or more of the thieves follow the victim and wait until they have loaded their shopping and handbag into their car.

They then make their move by distracting the victim in conversation about damage being done to their car while another thief quietly opens the door and steals their bag.

Thames Valley Police posted a message, which said: "Recent incidents show that fraudsters are still actively targeting shoppers across Bracknell, who use either Credit or Debit cards to make payments by way of entering a 4 digit PIN at the point of sale in supermarkets, or whilst withdrawing cash from an ATM at these sites.

"The offenders have been described as appearing smart and tidy and speak with an Eastern European accent.

"Other offenders interfere with ATMs (cash machines) using illegal devices that retain a victim’s bank card once it has been entered into the machine whist recording the PIN as the victim taps it into the keypad. The offenders then later retrieve the victims card and use it plus the PIN to obtain cash or purchases."