Wiltshire Police have issued a warning to residents after a series of distraction thefts in supermarket car parks in Chippenham and Melksham. Thieves have targeted shoppers, particularly those in disabled parking bays, using tactics designed to distract victims under the guise of soliciting donations for charity.
The thefts have primarily occurred in the car parks of major supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. In each instance, the suspect approaches the victim asking for a charity donation. When the victim reaches for money, the suspect uses a clipboard to further distract them and takes as much cash as possible.
PC Mark Giles from Wiltshire Police said: “We are asking for people to be on their guard in supermarket car parks and report any suspicious behaviour to us. The offenders seem to be targeting vulnerable customers, using disabled bays and taking advantage of their good nature.”
Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. Those with hearing or speech impairments can use the textphone service on 999 or 18000 (if pre-registered) or contact the emergency services via 999 BSL with a British Sign Language interpreter.
