Tips to avoid being a victim of cash machine crime

If you want to avoid being a victim of cash machine crime, use these top tips from the police:

• be alert and put your personal safety first
• if there are signs of tampering, do not use the machine but report it to the bank
• shield your PIN
• don't get distracted - be cautious if well-meaning strangers offer to ‘help' you
• if someone is behaving suspiciously, cancel the transaction and go to another machine
• discreetly put away your money and card before leaving the machine
• report incidents promptly - keep your bank's phone number on your phone memory