GARDAÍ in Limerick have warned against falling for “distraction theft” after a woman lost her wallet to thieves who pretended they were alerting her to damage to her car.
The incident happened at 4.30pm on Wednesday, January 26 when a woman in her eighties returned to her car in the Childers Road retail park.
She sat in, put her handbag on the passenger seat and was about to drive off when a man she didn’t know told her that her car was damaged.
The woman got out and went to the rear of her car to look at this damage but didn’t see any. Neither did she see another man open the passenger door and take her wallet from her bag. The two men then ran off with her wallet.
“This is a classic example of a distraction theft and people should be aware that it could happen to them,” Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Ber Leetch warned.
“If you are approached by a stranger it is better to be suspicious and remain in your car, keeping your personal property with you. If the person persists, draw attention to yourself by using the car horn and get the attention of the security staff.”
