A WOMAN had her credit card stolen in a supermarket car park by a thief who watched her enter her PIN at the tills.

The 70-year-old Poole woman was approached outside Tesco at Poole Road, Branksome, by a young woman who asked for directions to Oxford.

The young woman then ran off suddenly. When the victim got into her car, she noticed someone had opened the handbag on the front passenger seat and stolen her credit card.

When she rang her bank, the woman found money had already been taken out from a cash machine nearby.

The incident happened just after 1pm on Tuesday July 9 but police have only just released details.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "The victim immediately informed her bank of the theft and it was discovered that in this short time, money had been withdrawn from a nearby cash machine.

“I believe that the offenders had been able to attain the credit card PIN number when the victim paid with the card just before the incident.”

Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the theft or has information.

They are also warning people to keep their PIN secret and concealed.

The woman who asked for directions is described as 5ft 5ins tall with dark skin, possibly of Asian or Romanian appearance.

She had dark hair and was wearing loose clothing.

Anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident 14:417, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.