A GROUP of professional and organised criminals have been using distraction techniques to steal from unsuspecting members of the public in Farnham's supermarket car parks.

Surrey Police have this week warned shoppers to be on their guard following the recent spate of purse thefts, urging people not to fall for the scam.

Thieves have been watching customers as they pay inside the supermarket, taking note of their pin number as they pay with a card and then using a distraction in the car park to pinch their purse or wallet.

Usually a couple will ask for directions, spreading a map onto another vehicle and stealing from the victim while their back is turned.

The most recent incident took place in Sainsbury's in South Street last week, where a woman's purse was stolen and £250 taken from her bank account.

Last Monday afternoon, a woman returned to her car after shopping in the store and was sitting inside when she became aware of a woman standing next to her car.

She was holding a map and tapped on the window to indicate that she needed help. As the woman got out of her car to assist, the offender asked for directions to the M3 and London and asked what town she was in.

The interaction lasted no more than five minutes but when the woman got back into her car she noticed that her bag had been moved and her purse was missing.

By the time she realised and cancelled her card it was already too late as immediately after the theft someone had used the card to withdraw £250 from the Post Office ATM on West Street and again at Argos.

The woman thief was described as having a dark European appearance, in her mid 20s and around 4ft 11" tall. She also had long dark hair pulled off her face and was of a slim build wearing a dark coat.

Investigating officer Barry Jutsum said: "We are experiencing an increase in incidents in the area where it would appear that vulnerable shoppers are being targeted by professional teams coming into Surrey to commit crime.

"Surrey is a safe place but we want to make people aware of this type of scam and urge people not to be taken in by these individuals asking for directions. In addition we would urge the public to be aware of their surroundings and always cover up the keypad when using a chip and pin machine."

Anyone with information about this incident is being asked to contact Surrey Police on 0845 1252222 quoting reference WV/08/4989.