Thieves Use Distraction To Rob Elderly Victims In Haywards Heath

Monday, 15 November 2021 07:35

Two people have been robbed at pay and display machines in a hospital car park in Haywards Heath last Thursday (Nov 11).

The first happened at around 2.40pm in the car park of the Princess Royal Hospital. An 89-year-old woman was approached at the machine by a man who told her that she had to use a machine closest to where she'd parked and he would help her.

He watched her use her bank debit card to purchase a ticket and then made off.

When the victim got home and check her account, she found £500 has been taken from her bank account and her bank card was missing from her handbag.

The suspect was described as white, 5’ 9”, aged in his mid-40s with dark brown way hair and he was wearing a dark, brown tanned coloured stripy top.

The second incident happened just twenty minutes later. An 83-year-old man was approached in the same car park and told he needed to use his bank card to purchase a ticket.

When he tried to get a ticket, the machine swallowed his bank card. He reported the matter to security who told him to cancel his card.

Before he managed to cancel it, £500 was taken from his account from a nearby cash machine.

The suspect was described to be an Asian man aged in his 30s.

Investigator Helen Griffin said:

“We believe these two incidents of theft are linked because they are similar and we believe there maybe other people who could have fallen victim to this.

"If anyone witnessed this happening or has any information please contact us.

“Our neighbourhood policing team will be patrolling the area and we are warning people to be on their guard against this ‘distraction type’ theft. If you need help using the pay and display parking machine then speak to hospital staff.”

If you can help our investigation, report online or ring 101 quoting serial 460 of 12/11.