Horncastle cash machine '˜thieves' escape

Lincolnshire Police are seeking at least two men who allegedly stole, or attempted to steal, money from cash machines in Horncastle today (Wednesday).
Lloyds Bank in Horncastle's High Street.Lloyds Bank in Horncastle's High Street.
Lloyds Bank in Horncastle's High Street.

Eyewitnesses have said that the incidents involved the culprits inserting plastic strips into cash machines outside three banks in the town - including Lloyds and Barclays in the High Street - at around lunchtime today.

The scam involves victims inserting their bank card into the cash machines and typing in their PIN, only to find that their money is not ejected. When they go into the bank to tell a member of staff, the scammers remove the plastic strip and the money.

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The affected banks have not commented on the alleged incidents at the time of publication.

One eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, told the Horncastle News: “I got some money out of the cash machine about 20 minutes before all this happened. I had a very lucky escape.”

East Lindsey policing area’s Chief Inspector, Jim Tyner, sent a tweet shortly before 2.30pm today in which he said that he had ‘just disrupted a theft from ATM in Horncastle’ - but added that the suspects got away from him.

The alleged incidents come just one day after Chief Insp Tyner told the News that Horncastle benefits from ‘very low rates of crime and anti-social behaviour’, while allaying fears that the recent retirement and resignation of two local PCSOs could put residents and businesses in a vulnerable position.

• If you saw anything or have any information, call Lincolnshire Police on 101 and quote incident number 192.