Police are urging people to be wary after a 71-year-old woman became the latest victim of a string of distraction thefts.

The pensioner, from Wateringbury, was getting into her car in the car park at Sainsbury’s in Mills Road, Aylesford, when she was stopped by a woman who said her tyre was deflating.

When the victim returned from checking to see if she had a puncture, her debit card was reported to be stolen from her purse, which was in a handbag on the passenger seat.

It happened between 1pm and 2pm on Monday, October 21. The suspected thief was a slim woman in her late 20s. It follows a similar theft in a Sainsbury’s car park in Angel Lane, Tonbridge, on Monday, September 30.

On that occasion, a 76-year-old woman was told a screw was lying on the ground near her car tyre by a man with an Eastern European accent.

Her purse was stolen and £550 was taken from her account.

Sgt Mark Ginsberg for the Tonbridge and Malling Neighbourhood Policing Team at Kent Police said: “We are reviewing CCTV with a view to catching those responsible for this theft.

“But we are also warning other shoppers, particularly the elderly, to be aware of this type of crime.

“When you are shopping, always cover the card machine as you enter your PIN.

“It takes seconds for a thief to strike so if you leave your vehicle – even just to return a trolley, pay for petrol or to speak to someone – lock all the doors and boot first.”

It follows similar incidents reported at Morrisons in Maidstone.

If you have any information call Kent Police on 101, crime reference YY/21317/13