Conmen steal £400 from woman in church - CCTV PICTURES
A GANG of thieves stole hundreds of pounds from a pensioner by sneaking her bank cards out of her purse while they pretended to play dominoes with her - in a church.
Police want to speak to the men captured in these CCTV images about the theft from 75-year-old Muriel Newton.
It is thought the men followed Mrs Newton, of Scawthorpe, to Doncaster Spiritualist Church on College Road after they saw her withdrawing money from a town centre cash point.
They followed her into the church, where she'd gone for her dominoes and bingo session, claiming they were there to do some work.
Mrs Newton said: "One of them came and sat right next to me, another one sat opposite while the third was just walking about. They said they were Polish and one of them asked us how to play dominoes."
The men left after about 15 minutes without completing any work and Mrs Newton said she was concerned enough to check her handbag was safe.
She said: "I looked and my purse was still there but when I went to a petrol station a few hours later I found my bank cards and 120 I had withdrawn that morning were gone from the purse.
"They must have taken it out of a zipped pocket and put my purse back afterwards."
She believes the gang followed her from the Halifax in St Sepulchre Gate and took the cards and money from her purse while she was distracted.
The card was used shortly after the theft to make a further withdrawal at the St Sepulchre Gate branch and then twice more in Goole that afternoon before it was cancelled. A total of 290 was stolen but has been refunded by the bank.
Mrs Newton said: "I feel really annoyed that I was targeted but they were so professional. We even made them a cup of tea before they left.
"I'm sure they'll have done this to other people and I hope the police catch them," she said.
The men were captured entering and leaving the church on CCTV and South Yorkshire Police are hoping someone in the Doncaster or Goole areas can identify them.
They have also reminded people to be extra vigilant and keep their purses out of sight.
Anyone who recognises the men from the images is urged to contact Crime Management Unit Investigator Fiona Ginbey on 01302 385135 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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