TRADERS in Malmesbury are warned to be on their guard after a pair of thieves targeted several shops in the high street.

Electrical equipment valued at £40 was stolen from one store at about 4pm on Monday. Staff challenged two young women but they fled.

Minutes later two women answering the same description went into the Standard office and asked to use the toilet. It is believed they were picked up by a small red car.

Malmesbury police think the incident could be linked to a similar theft at another shop on Friday afternoon where an iPhone was stolen from a drawer behind the counter by one woman while the assistant was distracted by another.

The women are described as young, of slim build, Asian or dark eastern European appearance with strong accents. They wore dark clothes, jewellery and one had gold teeth on either side of her upper jaw.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Malmesbury Police on 101.