Necklaces taken in daytime street theft

The woman was walking to see her mother who was in her 90s at her home in Hamstead, Great Barr, when the theft happened in broad daylight.

The 71-year-old woman from Walsall, who does not wished to be named through fear of reprisals, today appealed to others in the area to be alert to the gang.

Police are trawling through CCTV in the area and are keen to speak to witnesses of the theft which happened, in Hamstead Road.

The woman said she got off a bus near the junction with Green Lane at around 12pm last Tuesday (20) and started walking down in the direction of Hamstead Junior School.

As she approached a foot passage leading to Greenfield Road she noticed a dark-coloured car pulled up beside her.

A woman, looking aged in her 30s with a European accent, called out to her from the car before stepping out and asking for her help.

She led the woman over to the car where a woman was in the back seat and a man was in the driver's seat with a map on his lap with 'Birmingham' circled and asked her for directions to the 'hospital'.

"I was just so confused. I was thrown. I said I couldn't help them. I didn't know what they meant as there are lots of hospitals in the city," she said.

But after trying to leave the woman said 'You have been so kind' and hugged her while producing a necklace and moved to put it around the 71-year-old's neck.

She also tried to put rings on her fingers but was unable to make them fit. "I didn't want the necklace. I tried to stop her," said the victim.

Within moments the woman had got back into the car and they drove off. But after feeling shaken by the ordeal the older woman realised that her own two precious necklaces had been taken.

One is described as a heavy gold chain which carried her husband's gold band wedding ring. He passed away in 2002 aged 56 from after suffering lung cancer.

The second necklace was also gold but carried a charm with 'special mom' written out in letters bought by her late son. He died just two years after his father aged 38. The chain also carried a locket with tiny white stones on the front which contained photographs of them both.

"They were not worth much really. It is just the sentimental value really. It is sad that I may never get them back," said the victim today.

"I just wanted to alert people to tell them that this had gone on to warn them that these people are around."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Gina Lycett said: "Whilst the lady was giving directions a woman has got out of the car and hugged the woman and placed a necklace around her neck as a thank you.

"Whilst she was doing this she has stolen the pensioner's gold necklaces.

"Officers continue to trawl CCTV for any clues and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the theft to call Sandwell Investigation team on 101."