A gang of distraction thieves stole a pensioner’s bank card and used it to withdraw a four-figure sum of cash from his account.

An 82-year-old man from Hockley was using a cash machine at Barclays Bank in High Street, Southend on May 16, when he was distracted by a man just as his card was about to be returned to him.

While the victim was distracted, a woman removed his card from the cash machine and replaced it with another while a third suspect kept watch.

The stolen card was then used to withdraw a four-figure sum of cash from the victim’s account.

In a similar incident, which occurred at the same bank on the same day, a 72-year-old man’s bank card was stolen.

The Southend pensioner only discovered the theft two days later when he tried to use his card to withdraw more money from his account and found it had been swapped for one which didn’t belong to him.

A three-figure sum of cash had been removed from his account.

Both incidents happened between 10.30am and 10.50pm.

Anyone who recognises the people caught on camera are asked to call Essex Police on 101. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.