Widow, 86, robbed of £21,000 by card theft gang

Officers from Wandsworth Borough in London are investigating a £21,000 card theft from an 86-year-old widow.

Two men and a woman watch her as she pays for her shopping and one of the suspects sees her enter her PIN and records the code onto his phone.

Once outside the shop, the suspect distracts the woman, pretending to be lost as another steals her card.

The theft is believed to have taken place between 10.30am and 12.20pm on Thursday March 17 in Balham High Road in Wandsworth.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told the Wandsworth Guardian: "The money was the victim's life savings that she was keeping for her grandchildren."

"The theft has also had a significant impact on the victim, leading her to change her usual routine. She is also afraid to get her bank card out anywhere in public."

They added: "The victim's bank card was used to purchase £21,000 worth of cars, clothing and a restaurant meal."

The suspects were described as a white woman in her 40s wearing a headscarf, a white top and dark leggings and a slim Asian man in his 20s who was wearing a dark top, dark jeans and white trainers.

Anyone with information can call officers in Wandsworth on 101, quoting reference 0306003/16 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.