Vulnerable elderly people have been targeted by ‘bird mess’ distraction thieves in Solihull, Wolverhampton and Coventry
A series of ‘bird mess’ distraction thefts have taken place across the West Midlands promoting police to issue CCTV images of men officers would like to speak to.
The latest incident took place in Broadgate in Coventry city centre where an elderly man was told he had bird mess on his jacket.
The supposed ‘Good Samaritan’ offered to clean it from the jacket.
But then stole a lot of cash from the man while he was being distracted.
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This is the fourth such incident, with similar distraction thefts taking place in Solihull and Wolverhampton.
West Midlands Police has issued images of two men officers would like to speak to in connection with the incidents.
The first man is white, clean-shaven and is pictured wearing a grey, flat cap.
He is also wearing a royal blue puffer jacket with a hood, black trousers and shoes.
The second man is of Asian appearance and is wearing clear-framed glasses.
He is also clean-shaven and is wearing a dark-coloured top, possibly a tunic.
And has dark trousers and dark shoes with one image showing what appears to be a white rucksack bag.
In issuing the appeal, a spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “Do you recognise these two men?
“We would like to speak to them following a number of distraction thefts where money was stolen from elderly victims.
“There was an incident in Broadgate, Coventry, where an elderly man had a large amount of cash stolen from him by a man who approached him.
“He told him he had bird mess on his jacket and wanted to clean it.
“While distracting the man, he stole a large amount of money from him.
“There have been three other distraction thefts where victims have been distracted in a similar way in Solihull and Wolverhampton.
“If you know who these men are contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference 20/153395/25.”