Cashpoint Crooks Target Elderly Woman in Warrington
Warrington police are hunting two brazen thieves who tricked an elderly woman out of £800 at a Halifax cash machine on Buttermarket Street.
How The Scam Went Down
On Saturday, February 24 at around 1:30pm, the woman withdrew money from an outdoor cashpoint. But her cash card wasn’t returned. Just then, a suspicious man — hanging around with a mate — approached her saying the machine was broken. He told her to go inside the bank to sort it out.
Trusting him, the woman went inside. Meanwhile, the man grabbed her stuck card from the machine and emptied her account of £800. The other man then fled on foot, heading toward Golden Square.
A Part Of Bigger Crime Wave?
This alarming incident echoes similar scams targeting the elderly in Greater Manchester, South Wales, and West Mercia. Police are investigating whether these thefts are linked and possibly orchestrated by a wider criminal gang preying on vulnerable people.
Police Plea: Help Identify The Duo
Pc Graham Davies of Warrington Town Centre Beat Team vowed: “We are committed to uncovering the identities of those involved and ensuring they face the consequences of their actions.”
Surveillance photos show the two suspects, who could come from anywhere in the UK. If you recognise them or have info, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 quoting reference IML-1764011, report online, or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.