CCTV Footage Shows ‘Distraction Theft’ as Thieves Steal £3,000 from Bank Customer: ‘I Just Had a Panic Attack’
Police have released CCTV footage after a 24-year-old man was the victim of a well-planned distraction theft, losing over £3,000 while attempting to deposit the money at a bank in Warrington, told Yahoo. The incident, which occurred on June 19, has left the man devastated, as the suspects cleverly took advantage of his kindness.
The victim, a hotel worker, had withdrawn £3,180 from the Nationwide building society on Sankey Street and was heading to a nearby NatWest to transfer the money between accounts. As he used one of the pay-in ATM machines inside NatWest, a woman wearing a red coat entered the branch in a distressed state, speaking in a foreign language.
In an interview with Crimewatch Live, the victim, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the events. “I saw there was a queue, so I thought I’d pay it using an ATM. I noticed the woman come in, and she was very stressed. I couldn’t concentrate because she was making such a scene. I felt bad for her, and I thought if I can translate for her, I can give that message to the bank staff”, told the Manchester Evening News
In the midst of the commotion, the man placed the white envelope containing his money on a nearby counter. Distracted by the woman’s pleas for help, he turned his back to assist her. Unbeknownst to him, a man in a flat cap was lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the victim’s attention was focused on the woman, the man swiftly swiped the envelope and left the branch.
“I just had a panic attack and I’ve never had a panic attack before. I didn’t know what to do,” the victim recalled after realizing his money was gone.
PC Graham Davies, of Cheshire Police, described the coordinated efforts of the two suspects. “Immediately, the red coat lady starts to engage with him. She was speaking in a foreign language, indicating she was confused about using the cashpoint. Flat cap guy, he’s hovering, waiting for an opportunity. When the victim turns his back to help, flat cap man takes the envelope, and he’s away.”
The two suspects were then seen on CCTV fleeing through Golden Square Shopping Centre, changing their clothes as they escaped. The man boarded a bus heading south toward Stockton Heath, while the woman fled in the opposite direction.
PC Davies emphasized that this was a “well-planned” operation. “They have no regard for the victim; they just see the money and the pay day. They carry out this crime with military precision.”
The victim, still in shock, added, “It’s such an odd thing to happen on a Wednesday afternoon. I nearly fainted when I realized. To lose that amount of money in one go is just surreal.”
The police appeal continues as they search for the suspects involved in this calculated theft.