Thieves spend £4,000 using pensioner's stolen credit card

Officers want to speak to the two women and three men captured on CCTV after thieves targeted the OAP.

The images show a group of teenagers in shops in Southampton city centre and Eastleigh’s Swan centre.

With full bags under their arms they were spotted just hours after the 78-year-old theft victim had her bag taken just yards from her home.

Detectives believe the people pictured may hold vital information in relation to the incident, which happened in Eastleigh.

The woman was approached by a tall youth outside her home in Franklyn Avenue in Eastleigh who asked her for a cigarette lighter.

She put her handbag on the floor to look for a lighter and another boy ran into the garden and grabbed the bag.

Both youths then ran off in the direction of Pembroke Road, Eastleigh.

PC Hayley Goodsell said: “This is an awful incident to have occurred to a vulnerable elderly lady and police are appealing to anyone who may know the persons seen in the CCTV stills as they could hold vital information.”

The images are taken from JD Sports in Eastleigh and John Anthony, JD Sports, Superdrug and River Island in Southampton.

In total as mush as £4,000 was spent on the stolen card in these shops in a matter of hours.

Hampshire Police said it is unclear at this stage how the thieves were able to use the card to purchase items in the stores.

The incident happened at about 2.30pm on October 30 but details were only released by police yesterday.

The teenage boy who approached the woman initially is described as being tall, of a medium build, and aged between 16 and 17 years old with dark hair.

The second teenage boy is said to be shorter than the first male, of slim build, and slightly younger.

Anyone who has information on the incident or recognises the people in the photographs is asked to contact PC Goodsell on 101 quoting 44150377600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.