'HAND OVER THE TIGHTS' SAYS CAR PARK PEST
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BY PAUL JAMES
11:00 - 04 November 2005
Women leaving superstores in South Devon are being asked to hand over their tights to help a "stranded" motorist fix his broken fan belt, police have revealed.
Departing members of staff at Marks & Spencer on The Willows in Torquay have been targeted by the stranger who spins them a yarn about his van breaking down. Security has already been stepped up at the Nicholson Road site with staff being advised not to leave the store alone if they can possibly help it.
Manager Andrew Griffiths said: "We are taking this matter extremely seriously. We are throwing our weight behind the police in an effort to have the matter resolved.
"It is a disappointing and sad situation, but we have to handle these things.
"Our store and nearby Sainsbury's employ mainly female staff, so it is a worry."
He said police were being "very supportive" in their efforts to trace the offender. And Marks & Sparks was doing its bit by investigating ways of improving its CCTV system
Detectives have already received two complaints about the culprit who is not above asking his victims to remove their own legwear to bail him out.
A police spokesman confirmed that two women had contacted them to register a complaint against thevan man, whose small white vehicle is parked nearby with its bonnet up. "We've been informed that if the woman can't furnish him with a pair of tights from their person, he asks if they have a spare pair or are even if they are willing to buy him some," said Det Sgt Rob Kingdon of Torbay Police.
He stressed that the two women who had contacted colleagues had not handed over anything to the man, although he conceded he may have succeeded in other efforts which had not been reported.
The crimes in Torquay- and at Sainsbury's in Alphington outside Exeter - had been logged as attempted efforts to obtain property by deception.
The Exeter crime was reported on October 25, followed a day later by the incident in Torquay.
On each occasion the witnesses claimed the man appeared to be a security worker. He was wearing a dark top which featured the word "security."
DS Kingdon said: "We would like to hear from anyone else who may have had a similar experience. We do suspect there have been other incidents which have not been reported."
He revealed that efforts were being made to contact the man, who is thought to live outside the Bay area.
Anyone with information should contact DS Kingdon on 08452 777444.
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