Shoppers are being warned to stay vigilant after a spate of distraction thefts at a city supermarket.

Police are investigating after three separate incidents at Morrisons at Wincheap in which items were stolen from unsuspecting victims.

On September 25 and October 16, purses were snatched from trollies in the store in Ten Perch Road.

And on Friday, 72-year-old Angela Smith, of Grove Road in Selling, was tricked by a well-dressed couple who stole her bank cards.

Her husband, Alastair, 73, said: “My wife was in the car park in Morrisons and she had just done her food shopping and was about to pop over to Dunelm Mill.

“I was incensed by it. We have heard a lot about these types of distraction scams and we are very aware of these sort of things happening but you don’t expect it in the outskirts of the city centre." - Alastair Smith

“The couple came over to her and asked what city they were in. The woman wanted to go to Cambridge so my wife gave her some basic directions and left it at that.

“When Angela got in the car, the couple were then tapping on the passenger side window. They asked to see a map of where to go.

“As she was unfolding the map and explaining the route, it was then the woman swiped the cards from my wife’s bag.”

The couple stole Angela’s debit and credit card and she only realised when she was walking over the road.

Alastair added: “I was incensed by it. We have heard a lot about these types of distraction scams and we are very aware of these sort of things happening but you don’t expect it in the outskirts of the city centre.

“We’ve told our friends and family about it but we want to make sure others are aware, too. You’ve got to be careful.”

Police say they are investigating all three incidents.

Morrisons spokesman Sarah Atta said: “We are aware of incidents at our store and have asked our colleagues to be vigilant. We continue to assist police with their inquiries.”

Anyone with information about the theft of Mrs Smith’s cards should contact police on 101, quoting reference ZY/33311/15.