Police have warned cash card users to beware of a new con trick adopted by thieves to dupe users in Braintree.

Two girls were victims of the new method in Braintree, one last Friday and another on Wednesday, while using the HSBC machine in the town.

Crime desk spokesman Steve Turner said the thieves appeared to work in pairs: "One man stood close enough to make a note of the victim's pin number as she withdrew cash, perhaps using a mobile phone to appear innocent.

"Timing it carefully he waited until the cash the victim had requested was in her hand, then told her she had dropped a £10 note.

"When she bent down to pick it up, a second man reached over and snatched the card from the machine. Then the pair made off leaving the puzzled girl to wait impatiently for her card to be returned."

The men then took hundreds of pounds from the accounts while the girl was asking the bank to check their machine because she thought it had kept her card.

"The victim does keep the £10 note dropped at her feet but she will lose a lot more from her account," said Mr Turner.

He warned: "Please stay alert. This will not work if the victim is aware of the trick."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Braintree police on 01376 551312 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

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