They've been alerted to a number of incidents in the last week.
Gardaí are warning the public of an ongoing distraction crime in Westmeath.
In the last seven days, two men and a woman have been targeting shoppers in the Athlone area, by getting their attention before stealing credit cards from their handbags in trolleys.
Last Monday, a stolen card was then used in three seperate locations in the town.
Sergeant Andrew Haran is advising people not to leave handbags and valuable items in their trolleys and to be extra vigilant of strangers attempting to distract them:
Further Five Reviews Into Portiuncula Maternity Care Due In March
Offaly Town Project Enters Next Phase
Laois TD Urges HSE To Take Over Nursing Home
€10m Funding Under EU Just Transition Fund For Midlands Bioeconomy
Construction Progresses At Site Of Former Laois Factory
Offaly TD Slams Costs Of 'Latte Levy'
Westmeath School's Enoch Burke Legal Costs Referred To Adjudicator
Public Consultation On Shannon Pipeline Closes
Midlanders Living In US Describe Impact Of Historic New York Blizzard
Planning Appeal Rejected For 38 Westmeath Apartments
Laois Senator Adds To Government Criticism On Backtracked SNA Cuts
Midlands County launches Affordable Homes Purchase Scheme
Power Outage Leaves Over 1,400 Without Electricity In Westmeath
Midlands Professor Appointed to National Science Advice Forum
Fine Gael Councillor Moves Against Government Rental Reforms
Offaly Holds Inaugural Green Energy Conference Today
Multi Vehicle Offaly Crashes Cleared
Midlands Designer Awarded At Junk Kouture Final
HIQA Requests Undercover Footage Of Laois Nursing Home
Midlands Hospital To Install CT Scanning Service