Woman hugs 88-year-old while stealing his wallet at supermarket

A woman robbed an elderly man of a three-figure sum by giving him a minute-long hug, police have said.

The theft took place after the suspect knocked on the 88-year-old’s car window as he was parking at a Waitrose in Essex.

She placed a clipboard on his steering wheel and started drawing on it after he wound down his window.

The man thought she was asking for a donation for charity and handed her a £5 note, after which she gave him a hug.

The victim realised the cash was missing from his pocket when he had finished his shop at Waitrose, Essex police said.

Police officer Luke Wilkinson said the man found it “odd” after the woman “hugged for around a minute” after he handed her £5.

“We understand that the woman may be claiming to be working on behalf of a children’s charity,” Mr Wilkinson said.

Police are looking for a white woman with black, shoulder-length hair seen carrying a blue clipboard between 2.30 and 3pm on 5 November.

The incident happened at Waitrose supermarket in Hill Street in Saffron Walden, Essex.

They have appealed with anyone who has been approached by this woman or with any information to come forward.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting crime reference 42/176312/19.

Additional reporting by Press Association