Yesterday while shopping in Intermache at lunchtime, a car pulled up close to me facing the exit, I put my shopping on the back seat and throw my handbag into the passenger side, as I got into the drivers seat the driver of the other car shouted and pointed to my back rear tyre as if something was wrong with it.
Not falling for that Con I drove away, stopping on my way home to check all was ok with the wheel, needless to say all was alright.

The car concerned was Portuguese and fairly new, the guy who I think was waiting to pull by bag from the passenger side was in his mid 20s and dressed in bright shorts and shirt, A word of caution please when shopping alone. In the past such stories were of spannish cars and a couple distracting one by asking for details of a location on a map, PLEASE BE AWARE

Sadly this sort of thing is happening in a number of countries across europe at the moment, you are quit right in what you say. It's necessary to be very aware, particularly if you are a woman.
The police suggested that these people generally look for cars with UK or foreign number plates and target those individuals.