An 80-year-old widow visiting her late husband's grave had her handbag swiped by heartless thieves as they distracted her with a sob story.

The elderly victim had gone to St John's Cemetery in Margate to tend to the gravestone when a middle-aged woman approached her by her car saying a headstone she was visiting had been vandalised.

The kind pensioner went with her to take a look, speaking at length and offering advice. When they returned to the car park, however, she heard a man shout "I've got it" before seeing him run off.

The woman then said to the elderly widow "my husband is upset", before also fleeing the scene.

The victim's daughter, Christel Clarke, said: "My mum then went to my dad's grave and didn't actually realise until she was back at the car that her bag had gone.

"It's shocking. My mum is very pragmatic and said she's just grateful that she wasn't harmed. She was saying 'it's only £10 and an old phone gone' but that's not the point.

"She's a tough old cookie, but she was pretty shaken up and I know she's feeling nervous.

"I haven't had a conversation with her about whether she is prepared to go back. I don't think I would let her go on her own.

"The times that she usually goes I'm at work so I would ask that when she goes could she go with a friend, at least for the first couple of times so she feels comfortable."

Ms Clarke says her mother visits her dad's grave every couple of days, and she would feel happier if there were surveillance cameras on site.

"I was looking to find out if there was any CCTV at the cemetery and I found a story about a man who went to MP Roger Gale asking for it to be put up after graves were vandalised," she said.

"That's something I would like to see happen."

Ms Clarke says she can't believe thieves would stoop so low as to prey on grieving and vulnerable people.

"It's the lowest of the low," she said.

"One of the reasons we wanted to go to the police and make this public is to prevent this from happening again, and to warn people to be vigilant."

Ms Clarke says her mum gave a good description of the woman, who she said was aged between 55 to 60, of stocky build, with blonde hair in a bun, and wearing a white cardigan and coloured shirt.

The man was about the same age, and she saw a black car drive off.

The incident happened on Wednesday, May 25, between 4pm and 4.30pm.

A Thanet District Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of this incident and empathise with anyone who has been the victim of crime.

"We have installed some CCTV cameras at Margate Cemetery, mainly focused on providing coverage of the crematorium building and we monitor these cameras from our main CCTV control room.

"There are currently no plans to increase the level of CCTV coverage at Margate Cemetery but we will continue to monitor the situation.”

The spokesperson said victims of crime can receive guidance and support through the Thanet Community Safety Partnership.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers are investigating a report of a handbag stolen from a car on Wednesday, May 25.

"The car was parked in the cemetery in Manston Road, Margate, at the time of the theft.

"Anyone with information regarding the incident should call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/102524/22."