Finchley Rd cashpoint thieves update

The Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhoods police team has sent this very useful update on this problem which seems widespread:

Over the last month we've had a number of thefts when people have been using ATM's on Finchley Rd and at the O2 centre.

As your money is due to be dispensed someone tends to tap you on the shoulder or points to the grounds and asks if you've dropped that £5 note.

As you turn to look where they're pointing someone else takes your cash from the ATM and makes off.

So far this has happened at Barclays Bank, Lloyds, Santander (Abbey National) and the Halifax.

Before you take cash out of any of these machines can you just have a look around and see if anyone's standing to close to you.

Don't look round or look away until you've taken your cash from the machine. The descriptions of the suspects involved are fairly basic, possibly Eastern European, 20-35yrs old, varying in height from 5'6"-5'11".

These offences aren't just taking place on Finchley Rd, but all over London.