Shopkeepers in Rutherglen are the latest to have fallen victim to a scam which sees one person distract them while an accomplice steals their personal belongings.
The thieves, who have specifically been targeting hairdressers and beauty salons in Glasgow and the surrounding towns, enquire about treatments before taking phones and other valuables kept at reception desks.
Three thefts were reportedly carried out at premises on Rutherglen Main Street last Thursday.
In one of the cases, two people – a foreign man and woman in their mid-20s – enquired about treatments and stole a mobile phone when staff were not looking.
The pair have reportedly been witnessed doing the same thing in other areas including Stepps and Paisley.
Police have urged all those with information on the thefts to contact them via 101.
