Cash stolen following distraction theft

At 2.42pm on Thursday, January 28, a man approached a shop assistant at a shop in Market Street to pay for items.

He then asked for various denominations of change, distracting the assistant and making off with a quantity of cash.

The offender is described as being white, aged 30 to 40 and 5ft 10in tall. He was wearing a dark beanie hat and a two-tone North Face jacket and spoke with a local accent.

The scam is known as ringing the changes and police are asking businesses to be on their guard.

Alnwick Neighbourhood Inspector, Paul Truscott, said: “I’d ask businesses to be vigilant of these ringing the changes incidents. There are criminals who travel around the area looking to confuse staff members by asking to change money.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, extension 69191.