Warwickshire supermarket shoppers warned of car parks scam

[dutchman]

Shoppers in Warwickshire supermarkets are being warned of a scam circulating in the area.



In recent weeks in Leamington, Kenilworth and Stratford shoppers have been approached in a car park while putting their shopping into the car.

They have been approached by someone, often carrying a map, asking for directions.

On occasions they have opened the map out to cover an accomplice who approaches the car unseen and takes bank cards from the shopper’s handbag.

On February 14, at Tesco in Stratford, two bank cards were stolen from a shopper’s purse, which was in a handbag on the front seat.

Within a few hours £6,000 was withdrawn from her account.

It is believed they had been close to the shopper as they paid for their goods in the store – enabling them to see the PIN number for the card.

Warwickshire Police is advising people to cover the keypad when entering a PIN number; to be aware if there is someone standing close by in the queue and to place bank cards back in a fastened purse or handbag before leaving the counter.

In the car park, officers are warning people not to put handbags within easy reach; to keep car doors closed while putting shopping in the boot, and to be cautious if asked for directions.

[Spuffler]

This is an interesting one! Ever wondered why some makes of car have two-push remote door unlocking?

In 1997, a woman parked her car at a supermarket, got her shopping, and returned to the car, put it in, then proceeded to get in. as she did so, a man carrying a briefcase got in the front passenger seat; he asked her if she could give him a lift. She said " OK - but would you mind helping me reverse out of the space, I'm not very good at reversing." The man got out, leaving his briefcase on the seat. As soon as he was out, she locked all the doors, and drove off, going straight to the police station. Officers who opened the briefcase found Gaf tape, scissors, and a knife.

The car was a Mondeo, and the incident resulted in two things: Ford decided to include women n its safety planning committee, and they devised the two-push unlock sequence, so that only the driving door opened with the first push.