GWENT Police has confirmed that the man at the centre of a police and social media appeal, is still at large.

The search is still on for a man filmed repeatedly in stores which had been targeted by distraction and deception thefts in Monmouth and Usk over the last week.

Gwent Police appealed to find the man pictured following the crimes, and social media posts by shop owners and locals also received huge responses online, including one from Angela Sholl and Number 49 in Usk.

Mrs Sholl’s post on the store’s Facebook page was shared almost 450 times.

She said: “We had a tremendous response on Facebook to our appeal.

“It has come down to two towns, working together to spread the word and catch this person; the police haven’t been out once to the store.”

Number 49 was victim of a fraudulent attack on 16th August when Mr and Mrs Sholl were away on holiday. Staff in the busy shop were approached by a man claiming to be returning various items bought in-store the previous week, and asking for a refund. When questioned, he claimed he had no proof of purchase, but had been given verbal permission over the phone by the owner to have a refund, and being duped while the owners were away, staff accepted and handed the man £55 in cash.

Upon her return, Angela checked the shop’s CCTV and staff identified the man, pictured. He was filmed picking items up from the shelf before walking to the counter to begin his attempt.

It is also reported that he targeted Manon Interiors in Usk, and the same man was also wanted by police in connection with a distraction theft from Extons in Monmouth on 16th August as well.

Officers suspect that the man distracted a member of staff before stealing approximately £100 from the till; a similar story to a theft at Tidings on Monnow Street, of £150 taken from the till on the same day.

It is suspected that the man is targeting small towns and shops with few members of staff.

If you have any information, officers ask you to call 101 quoting log: 238 16/08/2017.