A woman in her 70s targeted by thieves using a distraction technique walked away with nothing stolen after challenging the tricksters.

The victim was parking her car at Morrisons supermarket on Sutton Road, Maidstone at around 10.30am on Saturday, April 28 when a man knocked on her window and said she had oil leaking from her vehicle.

When she got out and looked under her car, a second man reportedly opened the passenger door and removed bank cards from her handbag.

Seeing this, she challenged the man who threw the cards on the floor and they both ran off towards Sutton Road.

The man who spoke to the driver is described as being white, 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build and with brown hair, and was wearing a brown or mustard hooded top with a stripe down the arms.

The second man is described as being white, 6ft tall, of stocky build and with short dark brown hair, and was wearing a navy jacket

Inspector Mark Hedges of Maidstone’s community safety unit said: "These suspects were foiled by an alert victim who demanded her property back.

"While we are treating it as an isolated incident, I would ask car drivers who are parking to watch out for opportunistic thieves who may try to distract them while an associate steals their property."

Anyone who saw the incident or who has information that may help the investigation is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting YY/14220/18.

Alternatively contact Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.