CLONERS using skimming devices at an Oxford cash machine have stolen thousands of pounds from unsuspecting victims.

Police have received several reports of card fraud from people who have used the machine outside the Tesco store in the Oxford Retail Park in Cowley.

Klara Minier, of Fern Hill Road, Cowley, said she was "horrified" to see £1,200 had been taken from her HSBC account all while she was laid up sick.

The 25-year-old used her bank card at Tesco on Saturday, April 15. She then fell ill and says she did not use her card for three days but during that time more than 30 withdrawals were made from cash points in the London and Essex area.

She said: "I was shocked when I checked my bank balance online and saw so many withdrawals had been made which I knew I was not responsible for."

On the Monday before Ms Minier's card was cloned, another customer became suspicious of the machine and went to tell security staff at the supermarket.

Mustapha, who did not want to be fully identified, said: "I was walking to the security when these two guys came up.

"This bloke just came up to my face, very angry, and said 'go'. He was putting his hand in his back pocket. It was like he was saying 'don't come any closer, I've got a knife'.

"The other one went to the machine and grabbed the device, and when the first guy saw the device had been taken he ran off."

Mustapha, who works at the nearby Mini factory, said many colleagues had had money taken from their accounts.

Tim Wiseman, police spokesman, warned people not to tamper with skimming devices. He said: "These bits of kit are extremely expensive and these people will become dangerous if you try to take it off them."

HSBC confirmed that Ms Minier would be fully reimbursed.

A spokesman for Tesco said they had checked the machine as soon as they found out about the problem, but the device had already been removed.