Police were this week warning of a distraction con which saw an elderly woman's bank card stolen while she sat outside a Hookwood supermarket.

The incident happened in the Tesco car park in Reigate Road, Hookwood, the thief targeting two pensioners who were sitting in their car after finishing their shopping.

The suspect, a man described as black, of medium build and aged in his mid-thirties, walked over to the shoppers' Mitsubishi car while they were sitting in the front seats.

He then waved a £10 note in front of the driver, saying, "You have dropped this.”

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: “It appears that the same man then opened the rear door and rummaged through a handbag before making off.” She said: “Not realising what was going on, the victim shut the door and drove off, and only later discovered that her bank card had been stolen.”

The woman reported the theft to the police, and cancelled her card, which fortunately had not been used. The incident happened at around 11.20am on Wednesday, October 31.

The suspect was around 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in tall, with black wavy, curly hair. He spoke with a strong foreign accent and was wearing a black or navy Parka waterproof jacket and dark trousers. Det Con James Cumming of Surrey Police said: "This was a distressing incident for the two women who were taken advantage of by a distraction thief. “We are determined to find the offender and bring him to justice, and if anyone has any information about this incident, please call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference MV/12/4307.”