Phone thieves strike in south Warrington (From Warrington Guardian)

Phone thieves strike in south Warrington

2:00pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News

PHONE thieves have been targeting south Warrington.

Thieves have been using sneak tactics to steal by distracting people before making off with their phones.

Police are hunting for the offenders, who have been described as men and women, of Romanian nationality aged between 20 and 50.

Estate agents, restaurants and newsagents have all fallen foul to the crime over the past month.

It is thought the offenders have been travelling, committing crimes across Cheshire and the north west.

Nandos in Stockton Heath, Morrisons in Wilderspool Causeway and Fresh Let in Latchford have all had phones taken.

PC Richard Whitehead, from Warrington South NPU, said: “These people have been targeting restaurants, shops and businesses across Cheshire and most recently in Latchford, Stockton Heath and Lymm.

“A lot of people leave their phones on their tables in restaurants or on their desks while they work and 99 per cent of the time it is safe to do so. But offenders are using sneak tactics to take phones by distracting the owners.

“Some incidents have involved people going into restaurants, talking to customers and handing out leaflets. They have been holding the leaflets over mobile phones and swiping them by distracting the victims by talking to them.

“People are advised to keep valuable items on them at all times.”

The leaflets are thought to be about various businesses.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.