A GANG of unscrupulous thieves are believed to be visiting Swindon town centre to snatch shoppers’ hard-earnt cash.

On Saturday teenager Ellie-May Woolford became the latest victim of the group, who are believed to watch hurried shoppers withdraw cash or pay in shops, then sneakily wait for them to be distracted before striking.

Police believe the group, who could be an Eastern European family, travel from town to town to carry out the thefts, picking on vulnerable victims.

They are thought to change their clothes while making their getaway, making it harder for police to catch them.

Insp Bill Giles told the Adver: “We are aware of pickpocketing in the town centre.

“There have been reports of what is known as purse-dipping going on.

“Trying to prove these crimes can be pretty hard, unless we catch suspects with the purse, so they usually try to dispose them as soon as possible.”

Two weeks ago pensioner Marjorie Hayes had £300 taken from her bag in Regent Street.

Police spokesman Sam Edwards said the thieves are believed to target elderly people.

He said: “They are known to watch their victims withdraw money in order to obtain their PIN number before following them and stealing their purses.

“They then use the cards from the purse to withdraw money.”

In recent months similar crimes have been reported in Devizes and Chippenham town centres, leading officers to suspect they travel from town to town seeking the richest pickings. In both cases the suspects were believed to be women of eastern European appearance.

Insp Giles said increases in thefts also coincided with travellers trying to sell goods in the town centre.

“When there is an increase in this kind of theft there does seem to also be more of a prevalence of people selling jewellery and things,” he said.

“It is hard to prove whether these two things are definitely linked, but there are suggestions of them going hand in hand.”

PC Adam Mullis warned shoppers: “Wiltshire continues to be a safe place in which to live and shop but we would urge people to take on board basic security measures to help protect themselves against the small minority of people who take advantage and target those who are vulnerable during this busy period.

“This sort of crime can cause much distress and inconvenience to the victim.”

Shoppers are warned to be extra vigilant and recommend people keep wallets and purses in secure inside pockets, avoid carrying large amounts of cash or valuables and to report lost or stolen cards immediately.

Anyone with information on the purse-dippers should call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.