DOORSTEP thieves stole £5,000 from a great-grandmother after distracting her and taking her bank cards.

Hazel Ainsworth’s debit and credit cards were stolen from her purse outside her Hampshire home while she was giving directions to a couple claiming to be trying to get to Winchester.

The pair went on a “spending spree” with cash taken from her account in shops and cash points across the south.

It wasn’t until days later that Hazel, from Romsey, was told that the cash had been stolen.

The 89 year old said: “You think it’s never going to happen to you but it can. I felt so upset.”

Hazel was returning from shopping when the incident happened at around 12.30pm on Thursday February 25.

Seconds after she had been dropped off at her home by Dial-a-Ride, the woman approached her asking for directions to the motorway.

Moments later another man drove up in his dark red car and Hazel was told that he was the woman’s brother.

A fold-out map was produced and Hazel believes that this was when the cards were taken.

Minutes after the conversation ended she took a phone call from an 0800 number claiming to be from her bank’s fraud department.

Hazel hung up before she gave her PIN number.

Days later she found out her bank account was empty.

She said: “It’s just unbelievable to think they could have got that card out of my purse. I put my purse where the shopping comes down. I put that right up close to me. The police said they’re so slick with their hands.”

Hazel described the pair as in their late 20s to early 30s and were both south Asian. She was about 5ft, petite and pretty while the man about 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in.

The woman was wearing a long, light coloured coat, he wore a black jacket and had a moustache.

Her granddaughter Jacqui Mullarney said: “We do not believe this to be a crime of opportunity but a very carefully planned scheme.”

“She was very shaken up when she realised what’s happened. We’re concerned they know where she lives. We’re glad that they didn’t force their way into the flat to get more.”

Anyone with information can contact Hampshire police on 101 quoting crime number 44160086358.