Police are urging residents to be vigilant after thieves distracted a supermarket customer, stole her bank card and withdrew £1,000 from her account.

The shopper was approached in Sidmouth’s Lidl car park on Sunday, January 28, at around 1.15pm by a woman asking for directions to the hospital.

A second person is believed to have taken the bank card from the victim’s vehicle.

Police warned people of a similar distraction theft in Exmouth this week.

A force spokesman said: “Following a grocery shop, a person approached a shopper in the car park asking directions to a hospital.

“This kept the shopper occupied, during which time her bank card was removed from her vehicle, presumably by another.

“The stolen card was later used to withdraw cash. When withdrawing any money, please shield the machine when entering your PIN number as it is believed the shopper was being watched when withdrawing money. If approached in car parks for directions, close and lock your vehicles before engaging in conversation.”

The spokesman said that the female suspect was described as ‘black, with an accent’ and aged around 30 with a light- coloured jacket with fur around the hood.

Anyone with information can call 101, crime number: 6207/16.