Warning after woman scammed in hospital car park

A woman lost a "significant" sum of money after being targeted by thieves at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, police have said.

Derbyshire Police said the woman was in the hospital car park at about 13:00 BST on Thursday when she was approached by a man in a high-vis jacket and face mask who told her she was not allowed to park and needed to make a payment.

She later noticed her bank card had been taken and money had been withdrawn from her account, the force said.

Police said the theft was one of a number reported at different locations across Derbyshire on Thursday.

At 11:00 BST a woman had her bank card stolen at the Sainsbury's petrol station in Nottingham Road, Ripley, after she was approached by two men, who claimed to work at the store, as she refuelled her car.

In a similar case earlier in the day, officers said a customer was filling his car with petrol at Asda in Midland Street, Long Eaton at 09:00 when he was approached by a man.

He handed his bank card over, which was subsequently passed to an accomplice who used it to withdraw money from a nearby cash machine.

At about the same time, another person was using a cash point and was approached by a man who said the machine was malfunctioning and told him to cancel the transaction, police said.

He later noticed money had been taken from his account.

Officers said a woman also had her bank card stolen as she used a Lloyds cash machine in Alfreton High Street at 11:30.

Police said other victims may have been targeted at the locations and that two men, one in his 20s and the other in his 40s, had been arrested as inquiries continued.

The force's fraud protection officer Tammy Barnes urged further victims or anyone with information about the thefts to come forward.

"This type of fraud tactic seems to be increasing nationally, please ensure that you are only using official payment such as fixed car parking payment machines near hospital entrances," she said.

"If someone approaches you in this way, you have the right to ask for a verified ID, and can take the time to call the organisation to verify their claim."

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