Nantwich shoppers are being warned about a gang who target people at cash machines and then steal their purses or wallets.
The warning comes after a number of incidents in and around the town, the latest at Sainsbury’s supermarket on Middlewich Road.
It’s believed a gang of between four and six, mostly women, watch their victims at cashpoints and memorise the pin number before using distraction techniques in the store to steal their purse.
They then use the card to withdraw cash or buy goods. In the latest incident, last week, they emptied the victim’s account.
Insp Dave Smithers (pictured), head of Nantwich Neighbourhood Police Unit, said: “It’s not an epidemic but there have been a few incidents in last couple of months.
“This gang uses speed. They target someone at an ATM and if they see the pin number they follow their victim around the store and with other gang members distract them to steal their card.
“The gang is described as having Eastern European origins. We would just ask people to be more vigilant, especially at ATMs in town and at supermarkets.
“This gang acts very quickly and because there are women in it, people are perhaps less wary.”
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