Police have issued a warning following distraction thefts across the Cotswolds.

Since the start of March police have received seven separate reports of people being targeted by thieves who distract them before stealing jewellery or cash.

The most recent incident came on Tuesday, March 14, when a man in Stow was approached by a woman who claimed she was collecting money for a deaf charity.

During the interaction, she managed to steal his Rolex watch.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Often victims are elderly, and police are urging people to make their family, friends and neighbours aware of this type of distraction theft.

“A common theme amongst the incidents is fraudsters pretending to collect money for charity, and finding ways to get physically close to the victims to either steal a watch, jewellery or cash from their purse or bag.

“Officers are asking people to be vigilant to this type of theft and to be wary if approached by an unknown person who asks you to donate cash.”

The first incident this month, on Friday 3, saw a man in his 80s approached by a woman who wanted to talk to him about donating to a charity before stealing a gold chain from around his neck.

On the same day, in Cirencester, a woman was approached by another woman claiming to be collecting for a charity for deaf children.

The woman got her purse out to make a donation and later that day realised £600 in cash had been stolen from her purse.

Then, on Monday 6, a woman was approached by two women, again supposedly collecting for a deaf children’s charity.

During the conversation, one of the women opened the victim’s car door and stole £450 in cash from her bag.

On Thursday, March 9, in Stroud a woman was distracted and had her purse stolen and on the same day in Cirencester a man had his wallet and cash stolen as he was load bags of groceries into his car.

Finally, on Monday 13 in Cirencester, a woman was approached by a woman claiming to be collecting for a deaf children’s charity and is believed to have stolen £300 from the victims purse as she hugged her.

If you see suspicious activity and the offenders are present, or if a crime has just happened, police urge you to call 999 or 101 in a non-emergency situation.