Thefts of credit cards from supermarket car parks are on the increase in Braintree and Witham.  We are all aware of the dangers of letting others see our PIN when we withdraw money from cashpoint machines, but are we so careful when we are paying for our shopping with our credit cards?

The person behind you in the queue in the supermarket could be taking a note of your PIN as you use it.  They would then follow you out to the car park and, working with an accomplice, work the scam.  One of them will distract you by perhaps asking directions to somewhere while the other one takes your purse or bag which you will not be watching as you are concentrating on putting your shopping into the car.

They now have your credit card AND the PIN and will lose no time in using them.

Please take care when using your PIN when doing your shopping so that no-one can see the numbers you are entering.

If you would like to have details of neighbourhood Watch please contact.
Clive Stewart, Essex Police, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator
Braintree District.  Tel: 01376 556 282.