Police say customers are unaware they have been targeted

A customer dislodged a fake front on a machine outside a bank in Guisborough which contained a mini computer to record card details.

Cleveland Police believe a micro camera would also have been attached to the machine, but it is thought the thieves managed to retrieve it.

Extensive forensic and DNA testing is now being carried out on the equipment.

Cleveland Police said people in Hartlepool had been the victim of similar incidents and there had also been cases in Durham and Northumbria force areas.

It is the first time such a piece of equipment has been recovered in north-east England.

The sophisticated computer we have retrieved downloads all the card details and literally reveals the customer's banking details Detective Sergeant Dawn Naughton, Cleveland Police fraud squad

They said the computer is hidden in a cover which is glued over the section where customers insert their cards and receive receipts.

The equipment does not retain the bank or credit card nor stop cash being withdrawn, which means that customers are unaware they have been targeted.

Detective Sergeant Dawn Naughton, of Cleveland Police's fraud squad, said the machine had an HSBC bank logo, but she said other companies have also been targeted.

She said: "We believe when these machines are in use the gang operating them keep a close eye on what is going on.

"They need a micro camera to record Pin numbers and that would be constantly monitored from nearby.

"The sophisticated computer we have retrieved downloads all the card details and literally reveals the customer's banking details.

"The criminals download the information on to a blank card and once they have a Pin number they can raid customer accounts at will.

"The scale of such frauds nationwide is staggering."

Ms Naughton said they would also be examining CCTV footage from the bank foyer.