A bank customer narrowly avoided being tricked out of £4,500.
The 44-year-old had withdrawn the money from NatWest in Central Road, Worcester Park, and was followed by a would-be thief who approached him as he ate his sandwiches in his van at around 1pm yesterday.
The man was in the Waitrose car park when the stranger told him he had a flat rear tyre. He got out to check but spotted the con-artist leaning into his van.
He immediately challenged the man who ran away empty handed.
The fleeing man was joined by another man and a woman as they left the area.
The bank customer thinks a member of the group slashed his rear tyre before the man approached him.
One suspect, the man who came to the van's window, is aged between 50 and 60-years-old, wore a black leather jacket and was South American in appearance.
He was with another man aged around 30-years-old and a 30- to 40-year-old woman in a beige jacket.
If you have any information or you saw what happened you can call police on 020 8649 3590 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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