POLICE are urging Waverley residents to be on the lookout for thieves who are using a new scam to take money from cashpoint users.
To raid cashpoint users' accounts, the thief inserts a thin, clear plastic "sleeve" into the cash machine's card slot. When the customer attempts to use their card the machine is unable to read the strip and keeps asking the customer to re-enter their PIN number.
A police spokesman told The Herald: "Meanwhile, someone is behind, watching you enter your PIN number. Eventually you give up, thinking the machine has swallowed your card and you walk away. The thief then removes the plastic sleeve, along with the card, and empties your account."
To avoid becoming the next victim, police advise running your finger along the card slot before inserting your card. If a plastic sleeve has been inserted, you should feel a couple of tiny prongs, which the thief uses to remove it from the slot.
Although there have not yet been any reports of such incidents in the West Surrey area, crime prevention officer Pc Graeme Ingate said it is important for people to be aware of the scam.
He said: "These thieves will obviously stop at nothing to rid you of your hard-earned cash so it is vital you stay one step ahead of them."