A PHARMACY in Redruth is counting the cost after fraudsters stole £5,000.

The incident was similar to a theft from a café in Exmouth, which happened on Friday, July 3 at around 12.50pm.

One of the men was given a chip and pin device to pay. A £500 refund was detected when the café counted its takings at the end of day, which was found to have been taken out at the same time the two men had been there.

A café in Lyme Regis, Dorset, was also targeted following £1,000 being taken via a card payment machine.

Police have issued a picture of two men they would like to speak to as part of the fraud investigation. Advice has also been issued to businesses.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers are appealing for help to identify the two men in relation to a fraud investigation.

“We believe the men pictured may be able to assist with our enquiries. We urge small businesses to be wary of distraction techniques when taking payments and urge anyone to report similar incidents to us.”

Police Constable James Norman added: “We are advising businesses to be cautious of handing chip and pin devices to customers, to be vigilant and to spread awareness to small businesses of this type of fraud.”

Anyone who has any information about the two men pictured or are a small business that has been affected in a similar way, contact Devon and Cornwall Police via 101 or the force website quoting reference number 50260172648.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org