An appeal has been launched after a vulnerable elderly man fell victim to fraud in Hitchin.

Officers are appealing for witnesses after the man was approached by another man in Waitrose car park, Bedford Road, at around 11.50am on Wednesday, February 21.

He was tricked into going to a cashpoint and using two bank cards, and was then distracted by the man, leading him to believe the cards had been swallowed by the machine.

Both cards were then used elsewhere to withdraw cash before they were cancelled.

The offender is described as an Asian man, around 5ft 10ins tall, of a large build and with a beard. He was wearing a hat, a dark jacket and dark bottoms.

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PC Matt Babb, of the North Herts Intervention Team, said: “I’m looking to hear from anyone who may have information about this incident in which a vulnerable member of the community was targeted in the most callous way.

“We’re also advising the public to be aware of such scams when using cash machines and also to make your elderly friends and relatives aware to take care when at ATMs.

“If you can help, I can be contacted by email via matthew.babb@herts.police.uk”

You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/14965/24.

Alternatively, you can stay anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.