Police are warning shop workers to be vigilant after thieves targeted tills across Cumbria.

Three crimes of a similar nature were reported to Cumbria Police over two days, each involving a man asking if his elderly mother had left something to create a distraction.

On October 13 a man has entered a shop on Little Dockray, Penrith, and asked if his mother had left her walking stick in the shop the previous day. The shop assistant had gone to check upstairs and on her return the man said his mother had picked up the stick already and thanked her for her time. That day the till was down by £40.

He was described as a white man, of medium build, with short, dark hair. He was well groomed, wearing a salmon pink jumper, dark trousers and dark rimmed glasses.

The following day a man entered a store in the Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle, and told the shop assistant that his mother had left her walking stick, that he had spoken to the manager and it was in the back of the shop. When the assistant returned he was gone and she realised that all the notes, a total of £105, had been taken from the till.

That same day a man went into a shop in Stricklandgate, Kendal, and distracted the lone cashier asking her to look for items left by his elderly mother. Once she had gone to look the offender went behind the till, used the key underneath it to open it and removed £20 in cash before re-locking the till and put the key back.

The man was described as a white, tall, of slim build, between 30 and 40 years old, wearing a dark cap, blue jeans and an overcoat to the knees. He did not have a local accent.

Detective inspector Craig Smith said: “These are all distraction burglaries where the offender has used deception to distract the shop assistants, giving him the time to take money from the tills.

“I would urge shop owners and staff to be vigilant about their security, specifically the tills, and in particular when there is someone working alone. If you have to leave the area of the till please ensure that it locked so not to give these type of thieves an easy opportunity to steal your takings.”

Anyone with information is asked to call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.