Police are trying to trace this couple after £11,000 was spent on an 80-year-old man’s stolen bank cards.

They are wanted for questioning over the distraction theft in Kent but are thought to have links to Ilford and Romford.

The victim was approached by a couple at the tills of Morrisons’ supermarket in Sutton Road, Maidstone, on March 8.

They told him he had dropped £10 before asking if he could give them directions to Maidstone Hospital, claiming the woman was going to see her mother.

By the time the man realised his bank cards were missing, £11,000 had been spent.

Police investigating a number of similar crimes in Kent this year would like to speak to the couple pictured.

Det Con Claire Beckett, of Kent Police, said: “There are a number of techniques that people use to distract others - currently the three main methods are telling someone they have dropped money, offering to help put shopping in the boot and claiming that the victim has a nail stuck in the tyre of their car.”

She asked people to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Det Con Beckett at Maidstone Police Station on 01622 604336 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference SI/YY/1018/14.