THIEVES are targeting people withdrawing cash from bank machines, police have warned.

A 77-year-old man lost his card and £200 in cash when a pair of thieves distracted him outside a Lloyds TSB Bank cash machine, in High Street, Oxford, yesterday.

Police are keeping an open mind whether it is connected with two similar distraction thefts at the same cashpoint four weeks ago.

Pc Paul Phillips, city centre neighbourhood officer, said: “I would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public to be vigilant when they are withdrawing money. It is important to make sure that they keep their pin hidden and that they don’t let themselves be distracted while getting the money out and put their money in a secure place as soon as it is withdrawn.”

The 77-year-old was using the bank's cash machine between 3.15pm and 3.30pm.

A man in the queue told the pensioner the machine wasn't working.

He went inside the bank to report it but when he returned his card and £200 had been stolen.

The thief was described as Asian, aged about 25. A white man of about the same age was also with him.

At 4.20pm two mixed race men were spotted by police acting suspiciously outside Barclays Bank in Cornmarket.

When approached by police they jumped in a car and fled.

On March 4, hundreds of pounds in cash and bank cards were stolen from three people using cash machines.

Two thefts happened at Lloyds TSB in High Street while the third occured at HSBC in London Road, Headington.

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.