POLICE are appealing for people using cashpoints to be on their guard after a conman stole £100 from a woman.

The theft in Congleton last Wednesday was the third in the town in as many months, and took place at Barclays Bank in the High Street.

The 51-year-old woman, who comes from the West Heath area of Congleton, went to the Barclays cashpoint at 1.30pm to withdraw money.

She had put her card in the machine and entered her PIN number, when a man came up and distracted her, saying the machine was out of order.

While speaking to the woman the man typed in a withdrawal request for £100, and when the card came out of the machine he gave it to the woman.

She walked off, and he then collected the cash.

The man is described as white, five feet eight inches tall, aged 18 to 20, with dark wavy hair and had a Scottish accent.

''We would ask people not to walk away from a cashpoint machine until they are 100 per cent happy the transaction has been completed,'' said a police spokesman.

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