Conman who targets OAPs strikes again

A CONMAN who steals cash from elderly women at a city shopping centre has struck again.

The latest incident at Craigleith Retail Park happened on Wednesday, when a 69-year-old woman lost a three-figure sum.

The theft comes just a week after another elderly woman, 82, was targeted at the centre.

Officers have now warned shoppers to be wary of men who ask for spare change in the area.

The thief initially tried Wednesday's deception tactics on a 66-year-old woman at 2:40pm.

He pretended to be lost and produced a map which he used to conceal his hand and her purse, but when the woman suspected his motive she shouted at him and he ran off.

However, five minutes later he had more joy with his second victim, who had just withdrawn more than 100 from an ATM.

When he asked her for change, she opened her purse and he stole the money she had taken out without her noticing. She realised she had been robbed a short time afterwards.

The man is described as being of Mediterranean appearance with short black hair. He was smartly dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, and was wearing a black and white chequered jacket.