'Helpful’ thieves targeted a woman.

She was approached in the Tesco's car park in Lottsbridge Drove, Eastbourne, on Tuesday (30) morning.

The woman had finished her shopping and was in the supermarket’s car park when a man knocked on her window and pointed out a long nail in her tyre.

She got out to investigate and the man took the nail and withdrew it from the tyre.

It was later at home that she found two bank cards had been taken from her handbag that had been in the car and £300 taken from each.

Sgt Julian Williams said: "It seems the woman was distracted while another person stole her bank cards. I urge people that when someone grabs your attention, for whatever reason, know that your bag and wallet are secure.

"It is possible that someone saw her enter her pin number at the checkout. We would advise always to cover the screen when inputting the number and realise that thieves can sometimes act in pairs or groups. We are investigating this incident and want people to be aware."

On January 22 there were two similar incidents in Tesco car parks in Hailsham and Uckfield where an Eastern European woman and man tricked the drivers in checking their tyres for nails and a purse and debit card were stolen.