A GRANDMOTHER has told of her lucky escape at the hands of would-be distraction thieves who tried to take her bank card in a Poole supermarket car park.

The 78-year-old, who asked not to be named, said she had finished her shopping at ASDA Canford Heath around 12.30pm on Friday June 12 and had returned to her car, when she was asked by a man holding a large map book for help with directions.

As she did so another eagle-eyed shopper screamed that there was someone reaching into the back of her car. The man then fled - dropping her bank card on the floor as he ran. In the commotion the man with the map also disappeared. The would-be thief had replaced the pensioner's purse in her bag - targeting only the debit card.

The shopper, who is a blue badge holder, told the Echo she was "terribly shaken up" by what happened but realised she had had "a very very lucky escape," adding: "I just want to warn other people to be careful."

Police said they were called to the incident and had a description of the man holding the map. He was described as white, wearing a purple/blue shirt, blue jeans, with short cropped mousy hair, and speaking with a non-British accent. The second man is described as of tanned appearance, wearing a blue checked shirt and dark jeans, with short cropped dark hair.

Local councillor Jennie Hodges urged people to be on their guard and said: "We take these matters very seriously - it is disturbing.

"It is important to let people know about things like this so they can take care."

Police were later alerted to a similar distraction theft at Tesco supermarket in Ferndown at around 5pm that afternoon. An elderly local woman left her bag on her car seat when she was asked for directions by a man described as slim, bald, around 5ft 6in, wearing a blue t-shirt and speaking with a non-British accent. She was later alerted by her bank to unauthorised spending on her account and discovered her cards were missing from her purse - which was still inside her handbag.

Police Constable Tom Clements, of East Dorset’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are investigating all lines of enquiries, including the possibility that these two incidents may be linked. I am appealing to members of the public, if they recognise the description of the men or believe they have seen them, to contact me on 101. I would also like to remind people to remain vigilant to these types of crimes.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should contact them on 101 quoting incident number 12:156 for the first incident and 12:280 for the second.