News Item - News - Surrey Police

Woking visitors warned to be on guard against unusual jewellery con

Submitted: 19/07/2010 16:48:42

Visitors urged to be alert to an unusual conman in Woking

Visitors to Woking are being advised to be alert to an unusual con in which they may fall victim to a jewellery thief who tries to sell them a necklace but in the process steals from the unsuspecting customer.

The tactic came to light this week when a 62-year-old was approached whilst he was sitting outside an hardware store in Commercial Road, eating from a nearby outdoor food outlet. The local man was asked by a woman if he wanted to buy a chain on Tuesday (13 May) at 11.45am, when he refused she put the jewellery around his neck and asked him to purchase it for a second time. The diner again declined and asked her to remove the item, which he believed she did. It was not until later that the victim discovered that his own 22” gold chain with a small cross had been stolen and that he was left wearing the unsolicited chain.

Woking’s Crime Reduction Advisor PC Tracy Spencer said: “This was a canny ruse which demonstrates the lengths some offenders will go to in order to target their victims. Unfortunately the suspect description is limited to the offender being a foreign lady. I want to make residents, shoppers and visitors to the town centre aware of this type of distraction offence in a bid to ensure that others do not fall foul of this con.

“If anyone else has been targeted in this manner or has any further information which could help police locate this offender, I would ask them to call Surrey Police.”

Anyone who might be able to help can contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference WK/10/5171. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.