Police warned people to be on their guard after skimming devices were recovered from three cash machines in Oxford.

A member of the public observed two men fixing a device to a machine at the Co-op, in Old Marston Road, shortly before 9am yesterday.

Det Insp Paul Miller said: “Two other devices have been recovered from the Co-ops in Walton Street and London Road.

“I appeal to anyone who has seen people acting suspiciously near to cash machines in Oxford to contact police as you may be able to assist with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information that could assist police enquiries is urged to contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don’t want to speak to police and don’t want to leave your name, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Police advice to prevent ATM fraud.

  • Check the machine you are using for evidence of tampering, particularly the card reader slot and PIN panel
  • Stand closer to the ATM screen and shield your keystrokes with your hand as you enter your PIN number
  • Check no one is spying on you over your shoulder.
  • If you suspect a cash machine is not working properly, press cancel and remove your card, then report the incident to your bank
  • Do not remove any suspicious device you find, as they are valuable to the criminal and they may use force to retrieve them
  • If you notice anything suspicious with a cash machine, report it to the bank or shop it is located at, or to the police
  • Note down your debit and credit card details, so that you can cancel them quickly if they’re stolen or lost
  • Never write down your PIN number in case thieves find it after stealing your purse or wallet.