Police are releasing an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with an incident where money was stolen from a woman in Portsmouth.
Between 11.30am and 2.30pm on Wednesday, October 22, an 83-year-old woman from Fratton collected £500 from a bank in Commercial Road.
As she reached Crasswell Street, near to the junction with Paradise Street and also near to the public toilets, the woman was approached by a couple.
The couple stopped her and said she had something spilt on her. They began wiping and patting down her back with tissues, and said it was curry sauce. As they helped her they were talking to each other in a foreign language.
The couple then left and the woman went into the public toilets as she could feel some of the sauce in her hair. Whilst in there she was helped by another woman.
When the woman later arrived home she realised that the £500 had been taken from her bag.
The CCTV shows the man in Barclays bank at around 12 midday, and the woman is also shown in the bank at the same time.
Detective Constable Dave Anderson said, “This was a truly shocking incident and we are keen to try and identify the people involved as quickly as possible. This CCTV is taken from Barclays bank, where the man was seen to enter the bank, queue for a few minutes and then leave again. If anyone has any details which may assist us in identifying him I would urge them to call us.”
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Dave Anderson at Fratton police station on 0845 045 45 45 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000.
