FLIRTY thieves are targeting people wearing Rolex watches using a distraction technique known as ‘hugger mugging’.

Police are investigating five separate incidents involving thefts or attempted thefts of high value watches using the distraction technique, which sees thieves hugging victims and using their close proximity to steal watches, wallets, phones and jewellery.

Two women are believed to be responsible for the thefts, understood to be worth more than £50,000 in value.

At approximately 3pm on Thursday, May 3, a woman entered the front passenger seat of a vehicle parked in South Downs Road, Bowdon.

She began hugging the driver despite his continued efforts to push her away.

When the offender eventually left the man discovered his Rolex watch had been stolen.

Around 10.30pm later that day, a man was approached by two women in Ashley Road, Hale, who used similar physical contact to distract him and steal his Rolex watch.

The 57-year-old man, who doesn't wish to be named, said he was left "confused and shaken" by the incident outside Victors restaurant.

He said: "It all happened so quick. They stopped to talk to me and they were very flirtatious and were pretending to be drunk.

"One woman kept falling on me and grabbing my arms to steady herself.

"I knew something wasn't right so I walked away and then I looked back and saw them run towards a black Vauxhall car parked near the taxi rank.

"A male driver was waiting with the engine running and the women got in and it sped off.

"It was then I checked my pockets, thinking that my wallet or phone might have been pinched.

"I was surprised and relieved when I discovered they hadn't been pinched. Until I noticed my Rolex watch was gone.

"I didn't feel a thing and can't imagine how they managed to unclasp it from my wrist without me noticing."

The man said the uninsured £10,000 watch was a retirement gift and had great sentimental value.

The man said he was disappointed with the police response, with officers phoning him nine days later.

"If the police had responded sooner, they may have been able to prevent the other muggings that happened afterwards.

"But they didn't seem interested. I visited nearby businesses with CCTV a week after the incident and none of the businesses said the police had asked to review CCTV.

"If the police don't show any interest, these criminals will just see Hale as a soft touch and they'll rob more people."

Also around 3pm on Thursday, May 3, the women attempted to rob a man aged in his 80s in Langham Road, Bowdon.

Two women asked the man where they could stay for the night. The man politely suggested a local hotel, whereupon one woman took the man’s hand and flirtatiously suggested they stay with him.

The elderly man suspected they were looking at his watch and immediately left.

A week later, at approximately 5pm on Wednesday, May 16, the two women approached another woman from behind in Cecil Road, Hale.

This time, the women were bolder and simply grabbed the victim’s wrist and forcibly removed her Rolex watch before fleeing.

Around 3.30pm the same day, the two women approached the driver of a vehicle in Hill Top, Hale.

One woman introduced herself and reached into the vehicle through the open driver’s window to touch the man's arm. Fortunately the driver was not wearing a watch and the women left empty handed.

The women are suspected of being involved in spate of similar thefts in Wilmslow and Poynton.

One offender is described as in her late 20s, of big build, with dark, frizzy long hair.

The other offender is described as being in her early to mid-30s. She is of smaller build, with shorter hair which is straight and brown/mousey in colour.

Both were wearing a jacket with a white blouse and spoke with foreign accents. The women may also wear glasses.

Sergeant Mark Allister-Smith of GMP’S Trafford Division, said: “The victims of these crimes have been left understandably distressed by their ordeal.

“We are treating these incidents as linked and are making extensive enquiries to trace the offenders.

“We would ask anyone who may have information to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should call Trafford South Police on 0161 856 7530.