Police warned shoppers in Borehamwood to be on their guard this week after an elderly woman claimed she was approached by two thieves posing as her friends.

The 80-year-old woman, who does not want to be named due to safety fears, was approached by two scruffy-looking strangers in Tesco supermarket, in Shenley Road.

They chatted to her as if they were her old friends and she believes they were trying to distract her so they could steal her handbag.

Hertfordshire police confirmed that shoppers needed to be aware that some thieves operate in this way.

The woman was queuing at a kiosk near the main entrance to Tesco when a scruffy, brown-haired woman in her 60s came up to her.

She said: "She kept on as if she knew me grumbling about the queue. She kept going on and I got annoyed and said: 'I don't know you'.

"Another woman, near the front door, started shouting and said: 'I know you'.

"There are many frail people walking around Borehamwood who would be quite dazed if this happened to them."

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said that, although no crime was committed on this June 11 occasion, police were aware of these types of incidents. "It is convoluted pick-pocketing one person will speak to the potential victim, while their accomplice will rifle through their handbag.

"People do need to be aware of this, and we encourage people to keep a close eye on their personal belongings."

Tesco duty manager Anne Cantle said the store had not been aware of any incidents, but that victims should go straight to a member of staff.

"We have got CCTV all over the store and a security guard on the front door as well."An elderly Borehamwood woman warned shoppers to be on their guard after she was approached by two scruffy strangers in Tesco who chatted to her like an old friend in order to distract and steal from her, she believes.

The 80-year-old woman, who does not want to be named because of safety fears,

The elderly woman believes the women were trying to steal her handbag, and she added:

June 26, 2002 14:30