AN ELDERLY couple have been left worrying how they will pay their bills after losing almost £1,500 to a heartless distraction thief on a shopping trip in Taunton.

Beverly Baker took her parents, Barbara and Alan Burnett, to do their weekly food shop at Morrisons, in Priory Bridge Road at about 10am last Thursday when a man distracted Barbara and snatched her purse from her handbag.

Barbara, who turns 80 next month, did not realise her purse was missing until she went to pay for the shopping at the tills.

The purse contained £125 that had been withdrawn that morning to pay for their weekly household utilities, as well as photographs of their grandchildren and a personal letter.

The couple initially hoped they had simply left the purse in their car but later that day when they realised it may have been stolen, Beverly called to cancel the two debit cards it contained.

However, by then the thief had already taken £1,349.98 via several purchases and cashpoint withdrawals in Taunton and Bridgwater.

At the very moment Beverly was making the call, the thief was trying to withdraw a further £115 but was unable to do so before the cards were cancelled.

Beverly, a health care assistant who regularly takes her parents to Morrisons to do their shopping, said: “I normally leave them to do their thing in the shop whilst I go and do my shopping, to give them their independence.

“But now this man has made them feel sick ... Mum can’t eat and Dad, who is 85, walks with two sticks and this man chose to target them.

“Their memories are not that great so mum keeps her pin number in her purse.

“All the little independence they had has now gone because of this man. They’re just too scared to do anything.

“I know it sounds silly but they’re not worried about the cards but they are worrying about how they are going to pay for their bills this week.

“It makes me feel sick that someone would do this.”

Police believe the incident may be linked to a similar offence at Morrisons on Wednesday, January 28, and they have released CCTV footage of a “smartly dressed man” they want to speak to.

A police spokesman said: “We would like anyone who recognises the man shown in the footage or has any information about the incident to contact us quoting reference 15179/15.

“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or call 101.”