A CON artist has been causing payment card confusion in Stourbridge shops to steal cigarettes.
Police have been called three times to incidents where store owners say the female suspect has left without paying for goods.
The latest offence took place in Norton, the offender is described as a white, about five-foot-three with long, dark coloured hair.
Pc Bill Donnelly, from Stourbridge police, said: "The lady confuses staff by putting lots of items into a basket then, when she reaches the counter, she asks for a large number of Benson & Hedges cigarettes. She hands over a card to make payment for the items, which gets declined.
"It seems the customer then goes outside, claiming to be going to get her boyfriend's bank card, but never returns. It is only after the lady has walked out of the shop that the staff member realised she had taken the cigarettes."
Anyone with information is asked to call Stourbridge police station on 0345 113 5000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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