POLICE are hunting a gang who stole more than £400 from an elderly woman in Keighley town centre.

The daughter of the 81-year-old woman preyed on by the thieves branded them “The lowest of the low”.

Lynne Greenham, of East Morton, said the gang must have followed her mother from the Low Street Halifax Bank branch to Keighley Market, which is where they stole her purse and debit card.

Mrs Greenham warned shoppers to be vigilant. She said: “My mum has had two knee replacements and uses a walking stick. She still goes out all the time as, she’s never wanted to just stay inside.

“She’s from the old school and doesn’t want to make a fuss. But she is vulnerable and I find the fact that this gang followed her from the bank especially troubling.”

She explained her mother, who does not want to be named, had gone to the bank for an account statement shortly after 10am last Tuesday. (Feb 5)

She added her mother does not have her pin number written down, so at least one criminal must have seen her enter it while she got her statement.

Her mother then went to Adam’s Cafe, in the nearby market hall, to meet friends.

Her bag containing her purse was on a chair next to her, and she paid for a cup of tea. It was only after she tried to pay for a second drink that she realised her purse was gone.

Mrs Greenham, 63, said her mother cancelled her credit cards, but discovered her stolen debit card had already been used.

The thieves used it at the cash machine in the Airedale Centre at 10.44am, first withdrawing £250, then £110 a minute later.

They tried to withdraw a further £200, but this transaction was declined. However, they also got away with £45 in cash, which had been in the purse.

Mrs Greenham praised the cafe staff for their response. Cafe owner Adam Halliday said on the morning of the theft a group of three women and two men arrived and ordered a small amount of food and drink.

He said staff were surprised when this group got up and left minutes later before they had even received their order.

“At first we thought maybe they’d gone for a cigarette or had an argument,” he explained. “But they never came back. About 10 minutes after that we found out a lady’s purse had been stolen in the cafe.

“It belonged to a woman who comes here almost every day. A few minutes later some police who were passing by came and took the details.

“People alway knock the police, but they were on the scene quickly and were really helpful.”

West Yorkshire Police released CCTV images of three women and one man who officers want to trace in connection with the theft.

A spokesman said: “If anyone can identify these people, call 101 quoting crime reference number 131900 64690.”