A frail 100-year-old woman was robbed of her savings by a callous gang while in a disabled toilet in Romford last Thursday.

The wheelchair-bound centenarian had withdrawn “a large amount of cash” from the Halifax Bank, in the Market Place, at around 2.45pm when she noticed two men acting suspiciously.

The pensioner was joined by her daughter, when they saw four people, a man and woman standing together, and two other men, watching them.

One of the men tried to engage them in conversation, but appeared to have limited English.

The younger woman felt they were trying to distract them, so she urged her mother to hold onto her handbag, Havering Police said.

The frightened pair then made their way to Debenhams departmment store to use the disabled toilets, but were followed by five suspects.

One placed a tube map across the victim’s handbag while pretending to ask for directions.

Moments later the OAP realised her bank book was missing along with the money she had withdrawn.

Det Con Barry Carter, of Romford CID, said: “I would urge anyone with information to come forward. This is a busy shopping area. The gang appear to have adopted a well-known distraction technique by concealing the victim’s possessions from view and stealing the contents of the bag.

“The incident has left the victim and her daughter extremely shaken and we urge anyone with information to contact us.”

The suspects are described as:

A white woman with a foreign accent, of slim build with dark blonde hair, approximately 5’ 4” tall, and aged between 20 and 30 years old.

A white man of medium build with short dark brown hair, wearing a dark coloured suit approximately 5’ 10” tall, and about 35 years of age.

A white man of medium build with a foreign accent, wearing a yellow jacket approximately 5’ 11” tall, and about 45 years of age.

A white man of medium build with dark brown hair and a foreign accent and about 25-years-old.

A white man wearing dark clothing with facial stubble a foreign accent and a heavy build, aged about 40-years-old.

Anyone who can assist is asked to contact police by calling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There have ben no arrests but enquiries continue, poiuce said.