A CON artist in Colchester is telling victims they have paint on their clothes while an accomplice steals from them, police have warned.

A woman had money stolen from a bag after being tricked by a duo in Culver Street, Colchester, around 3pm on Friday.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “This is a nasty ruse to steal from people and we hope that by issuing this warning people will become alert if this happens to them.”

Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to contact the investigation team at

Colchester on 101.