A PENSIONER had her credit cards snatched while helping a man with directions at a supermarket.
Hazel Mitchell, of Bryn Offa, Wrexham, had returned to her car after shopping at Sainsbury’s Plas Coch store in the town.
The cards were taken from her bag without her noticing when a man grabbed her arm and asked her to show him directions on a map.
Her husband, John Mitchell, 72, said: “My wife was in Sainsbury’s car park at about 1pm. She put her handbag on the passenger seat and then there was a knock on the window.
“She opened the door and a man with a map leaned over and asked if she could help him find the right road to Birmingham from Wrexham.
“She got out to have a look at the map, which he had spread out in front of him.”
As she did, the man grabbed Mrs Mitchell’s arm tightly and gestured at the map, talking loudly.
Sensing something was wrong, she pulled away and suggested the man ask someone else.
Mr Mitchell said: “He (the man) said ‘thank you’ and walked towards the garage.
“She got back in the car and thought something wasn’t right. She checked her bag and found her two main credit cards gone.”
Mr Mitchell said: “We cancelled her cards within half an hour. I just hope it’s a warning to others.”
Kevin Evans of North Wales Police said the man was described as about 30, short and stocky, wearing a coffee-coloured woolly hat, grey anorak and jeans with dark stubble.
He said: “If anyone in Sainsbury’s or Sainsbury’s car park at the time saw any suspicious activity, or anyone matching the man’s description, please call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Please quote incident number P014738.”