A man snatched an envelope containing a ‘three figure sum’ of cash after pretending to help an elderly woman with her shopping last week.

The money was taken from the 93-year-old’s bag as she shopped at Waitrose in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, on Wednesday (September 16).

The thief, described by Epping Forest neighbourhood watch as “a middle aged man”, pretended to help the woman with her shop.

The police were contacted at 11.40am after the woman went to supermarket staff to report her handbag was missing.

Essex Police say a man then returned the bag, but the envelope was gone.

The neighbourhood watch urged people to share details of the incident on social media “as we would not want this to happen to another elderly person”.

Waitrose team leader Daniel Smith said: “You hear about things like this happening but when it is in our own building we do try to involve ourselves with the police, we are actively involved.

“We try to deter it as much as we can, that is why we have got the security.

“The security there is for people, not just for the goods.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Police were contacted at 11.40am on Wednesday, September 16 with reports a woman aged in her 90s had reported her handbag missing to staff at a shop in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill.

“A man then returned the bag to the victim, but an envelope containing money was missing.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Loughton police station on 101.”