Bolton: Couple have money stolen after ATM swallows card at Breightmet Nisa

Tony and Donna O’Mahony were on the way back from a family reunion on Saturday evening when they stopped at the cash machine outside the Nisa on Bury Road, locally known as the "late shop", in order to pay for the taxi they were in.

Mr O’Mahony took his wife’s card to the machine, and after entering the pin and choosing the amount, he heard what he described as “a strange noise – a click and a beep” that seemed out of the ordinary. An error message followed.

Mr O'Mahony took a picture of the initial error message as he thought something was awry

After a short while waiting for his wife’s card to reappear, the machine then flashed up with another message saying that he had taken too long, and the card would now be held.

Unable to retrieve the card, the pair went elsewhere for money and returned home.

They tired to cancel the card that evening but encountered issues on their bank’s website, so decided to wait until morning, assuming that it was safe in the cash machine.

Having spoken to members of staff inside the shop since, Mr O’Mahony says they confirmed that the machine had been out of order for the previous three days.

It is Mr O’Mahony’s belief that someone has tampered with the machine and has waited for someone like him to have their card taken and leave it there, then returned to take the card.

Donna and Tony O'Mahony

Mr O’Mahony said: “They’ve even got the pin number because they’ve checked the balance and made a couple of withdrawals, as well as a number of contactless payments.”

In total, the couple lost just over £120, and are relieved that it was not much worse.

Mr O’Mahony said: “Luckily, it’s just the card we use to do our shopping, and it wasn’t the one we use for the mortgage repayments, but that could have been everything to somebody has got.

“I’d rather they got caught and me not get the money back than them not get caught and me get the money back. It’s £120 well spent if they don’t do it to anyone else.”

Nisa, Breightmet

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the incident has been reported to them, but no arrests have been made.

Chris Abalain, of Breightmet Neighbourhood Watch, has issued some advice after the couples ordeal.

He said: "If this happens to you, don’t leave the cash machine. Make sure you know the phone number on that back of your card, store it somewhere, and call them as soon as it happens.

"Stay there so that nobody else uses the cash machine, or in case someone comes to take your card. Somebody was obviously monitoring to see it happen."

The Nisa shop preferred not to comment about the incident.

CardTronics UK, the cash machine operator, said: “We are working with the relevant authorities on this incident.

"The customer should report the incident to the police and their bank so that the card can be blocked to prevent further unauthorised use.

"We work with the relevant authorities to prevent ATM crime and we take these incidents very seriously.

"If someone sees something suspicious or believes that an ATM has been tampered with, they should report it immediately to the ATM owner whose number will be displayed on the machine so that the necessary steps can be taken to prevent crime and apprehend those responsible.”