Police have warned people to check cash machines for "dummy devices" installed by criminals to steal bank customer's cards.

It comes after Sutton officers received reports an ATM in Worcester Park had been rigged with a device.

The contraption, fitted to a machine in at Santander in Central Road, was designed to swallow customers' cards and prevent them withdrawing money.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “In such a case, the scam is likely to be executed when the customer goes inside the branch to query what has happened, enabling the perpetrator, who may be nearby, to use the device to retrieve the customer’s card, which can then be used to make ‘contactless payments’ for goods or for identity theft purposes.

“Police advice is have a good look at the ATM to see if it’s been tampered with. If something doesn’t look right with the ATM, don’t use it.”

If you are suspicious about a cash machine, call police on 101 and notify the bank.