ATM MACHINES IN Forres, Keith and Elgin have been the target of thefts and attempted thefts – prompting an appeal from Police Scotland for information.
Police say that incidents took place on Tuesday at the Spar ATM in the Regent Street area of Keith, Tesco on the Nairn Road in Forres and the Tesco branch at Blackfriars Road in Elgin.
Attacks were also made on the Nationwide and Bank of Scotland machines on Elgin’s High Street, with police saying that at this point it is not known how much cash – if any – has been taken.
The Moray incidents mirror attempts made on ATMs at Boots and Tesco stores in Inverness.
Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson, from Aberdeenshire and Moray Division, said: “We are appealing for any members of the public who may have seen anything suspicious or unusual around these areas yesterday to get in touch with us.
“This can include seeing someone loitering nearby ATMs or if you have had any issues trying to withdraw cash in these areas.
“We would encourage the public to bear in mind an easy acronym when using ATMs: C.H.I.P.
“C is for Check the machine. H advised you to Hide your pin. I means Inform the Police and the bank. P means Put your cash away.
“By following this advice, you can greatly reduce the chances of becoming a victim of crime.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.