Attempted robbery at cashpoint- UPDATE

[missmack1981]

My mother in law was at he cashpoint on Lordship lane today.

She was feeling unnerved by a guy who was standing close to her at cashpoint. He soon disappeared. Whilst her bank card and PIN number was in machine, another man came up and shoved a piece of paper to obscure buttons. He pressed something (assuming it was 'cancel') and the card was ejected. He attempted to snatch the card.

MIL has heard of this being used before so was vigilant and not 'confused' by paper distraction. She gave him an elbow and retrieved the card before he did.

If no one has heard of this technique before then they may be stunned by paper and too slow to react to card being taken.

Be vigilant!

[DulwichFox]

Cash point may be covered by a camera..

You should inform the Police.. and /or The Bank

Dulwichfox

[missmack1981]

Sorry, maybe 'theft' is a better word to use? Not sure

Anyway incident has been reported to Peckham Rye Police so hopefully they can pop by to deter any further attempts.

[Alan Medic]

Well done your MIL. I haven't heard of that technique. I'm surprised it was tried on what must be the busiest day of the week on LL. What did the guy do?

[missmack1981]

I know, in broad day light too!

He just ran away.

Apparently she whacked a would-be handbag theif once and he also ran away empty handed! Don't mess with the MIL!

[Andrew1011]

A similar, although apparently more slickly undertaken, incident happened to a woman at the HSBC branch on Lordship Lane about a year ago. She was distracted while someone who'd been watching took her card, having noted her PIN. The card and PIN were then used a couple of minutes at the Post Office cash machine about 30 metres away almost before she realised what had happened and before the police arrived. It all happened so quickly that the person thought at first the machine had swallowed her card.

It's important to always conceal the inputting of your PIN as much as possible and to be vigilant for any people around watching or behaving suspiciously. People also need to keep a look out for any criminally installed card reader gadgets on cash machines they are using and report anything even slightly suspicious looking.

[missmack1981]

UPDATE:

My husband was on the Lane and spotted the men fitting MILs description and one more (3 in total). He stood and watched them for a bit and saw them eyeing up a woman by cashpoint. They spotted husband, alerted one another and went to cafe. He called 999 and within minutes, they arrived and searched men.

Husband still there, awaiting outcome now.

What an eventful Saturday.

He only went to grab us some lunch. I'm starving!

[Robert Poste's Child]

Looks like they just got them! Three police are holding two men in handcuffs outside Dulwich Cafe opposite PO right now...

[missmack1981]

Ok... All men arrested, searched and in possession of stolen cards!!

The streets are safer and my superhero husband forgot the bloody pizza!

[Robert Poste's Child]

I should think champagne is what's needed in your house, not pizza.

And the police got a Saturday afternoon audience, too, which can't be bad.

[Blah Blah]

Great result missmack, but absolutely no excuse for hubby forgetting pizza ;D

Truly well done.

[phobic3000]

Good work people, enjoy your pizza, if you get one!

[Peckhampam]

Well done missmack's family

[Andrew1011]

An excellent result. Well done to your vigilant husband and MIL for her description.

[dimples]

Fabulous work x

[Jennys]

I agree with Dimples. Excellent ending to this story.

[bob]

I wonder'd what was going on as I past in the car bad guys 0 public 1

Bob S

[MelonSmasher]

Saw this, great news now its all sorted, good going team missmack

[Loz]

EDF and Super Hubby team up and bust the crims!

[ontheedge]

What a brilliant ending well done to Mil & hubby, not to mention the police for such a fast response

[Alex K]

Well well well well well! Congratulations, and what did you have for lunch, then?

[missmack1981]

A late pub lunch and hunger issues resolved.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Husband would be my guess. It's Saturday afternoon after all.

(Eek, crossed with the OP - caught red-handed! Was replying to the one before that.)

[Robert Poste's Child]

Missmack1981, I've adjusted my earlier post; hope that's now ok, though just realised it probably means you'll now want to adjust yours too! Sorry.

[Sue]

YAY! How nice to have a good ending to a crime story on the forum!!

Well done MIL and husband, and hope you had a good meal in the end :)