This is the moment before a thief snatched a pensioner’s purse in a Black Country jewellers – prompting police to warn that crooks are preying on elderly shoppers and mothers with pushchairs.

Click here to enlarge image

Detectives have today released CCTV images of a suspect ready to target a 76-year-old woman yesterday as she browsed in Goldsmiths on Dudley Street, in Wolverhampton’s city centre.

The worrying trend also saw two women fleeced in Iceland in the Wulfrun Centre on Monday.

The first victim, 78-year-old Joan Bowen, had more than £40 taken as she looked in the freezer shop.

The thief struck up a conversation with her as she slyly plucked the pensioner’s purse from her trolley around 11.30am.

A suspicious member of staff confronted the thief who then fled.

And two hours later, a 44-year-old woman had £16, a mobile phone, passport and two credit cards taken after leaving her handbag in a pushchair at the same supermarket.

The Goldsmiths theft saw the culprit swipe the victim’s purse containing £70 cash and £40 in Marks & Spencer vouchers as she browsed at around 11am.

He also took her credit card, and within less than two hours, three failed attempts to use it had been made.

Police today warned shoppers to remain vigilant and warned the

The first image shows the suspect approaching the back of the store and the second shows the victim, whose face is pixillated out, checking through her handbag, as he enters the right of the picture.

Victim Joan Bowen today thanked shoppers and bosses of Iceland after they said she did not have to pay for her shopping. But Mrs Bowen , of Wednesfield, said she had been unable to sleep after she was targeted in the Wulfrun Centre store on Monday.

She said: “I was trying to reach some butter on the top shelf. This woman said ‘I’ll reach that for you, love’ and I said ‘You’re very kind.’ One of the assistants came running up and said ‘You’ve just put your hand in that lady’s trolley.’

“It was was just so easy,” she added.

The thief then fled.

Mrs Bowen asked for help returning the goods to the shelves, but customers rallied round her and offered to pay. The store manager said she did not have to pay.

“I think it’s awful. It’s made me ill. I’ve had no sleep at all on Monday night and I had to get the council to change the lock. I couldn’t eat.

l Anyone with information should call Bilston Street police on 0845 113 5000.