11 hours ago
Asda thief sat on man and kissed him in car park before stealing gold chain
A driver told how a brazen thief sat on him in an Asda store car park and repeatedly kissed him while stealing his gold chain.
The crook, described as a middle-aged woman, approached George Lovatt as he waited in his car in a disabled bay at the Minworth store in Sutton Coldfield at around 12.30pm on Monday, June 16.
At first the woman and her younger accomplice were asking about blue badges and asking for money, he said.
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But when those requests were refused, the older woman sat on him and started kissing him, before stealing a gold chain he had had for 30 years, with two crosses on it.
George, from Coleshill, told BirminghamLive: 'At first, I thought it was a joke.
'I drove to Asda with my wife and daughter. It was that hot I let the women go into the store.
'It was red hot on the driver's side so I moved to the passenger side.
'I sat out of the car and I was approached by a middle-aged woman and a younger one.
'They had a sheet with them with signatures and the blue badge sign and they were asking for money.'
The 84-year-old continued: 'Then the older woman climbed over me. At first I thought somebody had set me up.
'She was kissing me around the neck and on the lips. I thought she was a bit familiar. I pushed her away and she got out of the car.
'I phoned my daughter to tell them what happened just before 12.30pm. They thought I was having them on.
'When I got home I noticed my gold chain was gone. We tried to get Asda security and then phoned 999 and was told to call 101.'
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Mr Lovatt continued: 'My wife bought the gold chain originally. It has got two crosses on it.
'I only said to her the other day, 'I wonder how much that would be worth'.
'Fortunately I usually have a chain on my hand, but that was still on the dresser and I hadn't worn it.
'These women are obviously preying on people in blue badge areas. Apparently, it has happened at a Tesco too.'
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Mr Lovatt added: 'I have been having panic attacks since an operation for a detached retina.
'This has made that worse. What made it worse was the climbing on top of me and kissing me.
'Anybody walking past the car would have thought she was making love to me. A police officer said they had a special team looking into it and had pictures from Asda."
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A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We're investigating a distraction theft, outside a supermarket on Walmley Ash Road, Sutton Coldfield, at around 12.30pm on Monday, June 16.
'It's reported two women approached a man, one began to kiss him, and he pushed her away.
'Afterwards the man noticed a gold chain and crucifix he was wearing was missing.
'We are in contact with the man who reported this, and officers are reviewing CCTV as part of the investigation.
'Anyone with information should contact us on 101 quoting 20/277138/25.'
