UPDATE: Bank agrees to pay back full amount after theft 

A GRANDMOTHER was left devastated after brazen thieves stole £3,000 from her handbag – while in a bank in the centre of Oxford.

Two women targeted Zahida Aziz, 64, as she paid a bill at the cashier’s desk of Lloyds Bank’s Carfax branch on Monday and distracted her while lifting the cash she had withdrawn just moments earlier.

The retired nursery teacher, whose husband died a year-and-a-half ago, has spoken to the Oxford Mail about her distress over the theft, saying she had always thought of the bank as a ‘safe place’.

Her daughter Shaista, who lives with her mum in Cowley, Oxford, said it was ‘breathtaking’ and ‘unacceptable’ that such a crime could take place in a bank in the heart of the city.

Mrs Aziz, who has worked in women's rights and as a translator for female refugees, said she had been shaken by the ordeal.

She said: “I’m really very upset. I couldn’t believe this had happened to me. I was crying all day.

“It’s shocking. I’ve always thought of the bank as a very safe place.”

The grandmother-of-nine was running errands in the centre of Oxford on Monday when she went into the Carfax branch of Lloyds Bank, in High Street, to withdraw cash and pay bills at about 3pm.

While at the cashier’s desk she withdrew £3,000 in cash. The cashier placed the notes in an envelope and handed it to Mrs Aziz, who placed it in her handbag.

The bag was sat in front of Mrs Aziz on the cashier’s desk.

She then began to pay a bill when two women, both white and about 5ft tall, appeared. They bypassed the queue and approached Mrs Aziz at the desk, situating themselves on either side of her.

They were both speaking in a foreign language. One of the women had a clipboard and pen and seemed to be encouraging Mrs Aziz to sign something.

The 64-year-old was confused and said staff at the bank seemed to believe she knew the women.

Mrs Aziz said: “It was so fast. When they were talking to me I was panicked. I said I don’t want to do this.

“I didn’t know what they were talking about. I was confused.”

It was all over in a matter of seconds and the women were gone. It was several hours before Mrs Aziz even realised the money was missing.

She said: “After getting home later we were going to go out to the shop so I wanted to leave the money.

“I couldn’t find it. I was shocked. I turned out the bag on the table and it wasn’t there. After 10 minutes I realised what had happened to me in the bank.”

Mrs Aziz and her daughter contacted the bank and the police.

Shaista said: “My mum is a 64-year-old woman. She should be able to go to a bank and come home safely – and this is in the heart of Oxford, a place full of tourists and people from all over the world. It’s really not acceptable.

“The fact that people can just walk into a bank and take money from people is breathtaking.”

Mrs Aziz and Shaista say the bank has said it is not responsible for replacing the cash - but the Aziz's believe the bank was at fault as the theft took place in the bank and at the cashier's desk.

She is now considering looking elsewhere after banking with Lloyds since 1979. At Christmas, Lloyds sent her a hamper to thank her for her loyalty.

Mrs Aziz's son Faisal, 39, said: "The bank is now setting a precedent that any members of the public or any customers in their building are there at their own risk and that is untoward."

A spokesman for the bank said: “We are aware of an incident that took place within our branch on Oxford High Street on Monday, which is currently being investigated by the police.

“We are unable to comment while the investigation is ongoing, however, we’re helping the police with their enquiries, including handing over CCTV footage.”

Police have urged anybody who witnessed the crime to come forward by contacting 101. The CCTV was not available when requested by the Oxford Mail.