HI-TECH fraudsters are hitting at least one cash machine in the Bournemouth conurbation every week, in a counterfeiting crime wave that can make them thousands of pounds a time.

Police say they believe the thieves are Londoners who travel to Dorset to cream money from unsuspecting ATM-users' accounts.

They attach "skimming" devices and tiny cameras to the machines, to scan information from cash cards and film the PINs while customers are drawing out their money.

One of the cases that Dorset Police's cheque and card unit is investigating involves a group of men and a woman who skimmed 12 cards in 20 minutes from a Poole High Street cashpoint in broad daylight.

They were rumbled by a member of the public and fled, leaving behind a video recording which clearly showed customers typing in their PINs.

Det Sgt Richard Niemier said the crooks use the information to counterfeit cards, and if they are successful make an average of £2,000 from each card.

"They are skimming from at least one cash point a week across the conurbation," he said.

"Wimborne has been hit four or five times in the last three months, and the Barclays in Old Christchurch Road and the Lloyds in Gervis Place have both been done eight or 10 times.

"However, there's not necessarily a pattern, and they can strike at any ATM at any time."

The Association of Payment Clearing Services (APACS) warned last week that cash machine fraud has soared by 85 per cent during the past year, with criminals making extra efforts before the safer chip and PIN cards are fully rolled out.

DS Niemier said customers should be on the look-out for anything unusual at the cash point - particularly a protruding device on the card entry slot. "If you see one there, call 999, because the incident could be over within minutes," he said.

First published: November 19