Thousands of pounds were stolen from a bank account after a woman’s purse was taken in a scam.

Police are urging residents to be alert after the theft of a purse during an incident in Bramford Lane in Ipswich on Monday.

A couple had just arrived home in their car at around 1.30pm–2pm when a man and woman came over to them and began asking for directions.

The woman in the car had her handbag on her lap and the suspects put a map over the handbag while talking to her.

Moments later the pair left and got into a dark red car parked nearby.

The woman in the car then realised her purse had gone missing from her bag. Soon after a large sum of money was taken from her bank account. A police spokeswoman said a “four-figure” sum of money was stolen.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the occupants of the dark red car to contact the Investigations Management Unit at police headquarters by dialling 101.

Officers are also asking residents to be alert for similar distraction thefts and to be careful if you are approached in similar circumstances.