A WOMAN is warning shoppers to be aware of a scam after thieves stole her purse while she gave directions.

Pat Baldock, 68, of Deneway, Vange, said the two crooks got away with more than £600 following the ruse, which took place in the car park of Tesco Extra, Pitsea, on Monday.

Mrs Baldock was loading shopping into her car at about 11.30am when a woman, who spoke with a strong eastern European accent, asked her how to get to Dover.

She said: “I tried to explain and she got out a map and put it on the bonnet next to me.

“As I was showing her, someone must have opened my car door and stole my purse from my handbag on the front seat.

“I didn’t notice my purse was gone for another hour.

“People need to be aware of this as they are preying on vulnerable people.”

The purse contained £100, loose change and personal items.

The thieves then withdrew £500 from a cash machine and Mrs Baldock believes they must have been watching as she entered in her PIN in the supermarket.

To make matters worse, the purse was given to Pat by her mum Maude Coull, who died in November.

Mrs Baldock added: “It’s the personal loss much more than the money.

“That purse was a way I remembered my mum. It had letters in it she had sent to me over the years.”

The woman was tall and thin and was wearing jeans and a pink body warmer. Her accomplice was a man and they drove a dark grey car.

Police believe the offence could be linked to a similar scam on another shopper outside Asda, in Pipps Hill Retail Park, Basildon, just days before. Officers will circulate information to shops through our Basildon Businesses Against Crime database.