A report that a man aged in his 70s had been robbed of a Rolex watch he’d been wearing at Ferndown Golf Club in Golf Links Road was received by Dorset Police at 11.15am on Wednesday 14 July.

Another incident occurred the following day at around 11.20am in High Street, Wimborne.

In the Golf Links Road robbery it was reported that the victim was on a footpath near to the car park when a woman approached him, grabbed his arm and took the watch from his wrist. The woman returned to the car park where she got into a waiting vehicle, believed to be a black Ford Focus that was being driven by a man, and they made off from the scene.

The victim sustained a minor injury to his finger.

The woman is described as white with tanned skin, around five feet six inches tall and of slim build, aged in her mid 20s and with dark hair. She was wearing a black dress and black face mask and is believed to have spoken in a Spanish accent.

In the Wimborne incident, a man aged in his 60s was approached by two women and they asked him to sign a document for a charity. One of the women grabbed him and he later discovered his watch had been taken.

The women were believed to be eastern European. One is described as five feet tall and with long dark hair, the other is described as around five feet seven inches tall and both were said to be well dressed.

Detective Sergeant Karen Penn, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said: “We are carrying out a number of enquiries into these incidents and I would urge anyone with information that might assist our investigations to please come forward.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to urge members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly if they are wearing high value watches or items of jewellery and be alert if you are approached by anyone acting suspiciously.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a similar robbery or has experienced suspicious behaviour of this nature to please come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55210112274 for the Ferndown incident and 55210113063 for the Wimborne incident. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call freephone 0800 555 111.