A bank cashpoint in the city centre has been targeted by crooks using a skimming device.

An off-duty police community support officer spotted the device installed at the NatWest ATM in The Parade on Saturday.

Thieves use skimmer devices to read customers' debit card details and later use them to withdraw money.

It was discovered by PCSO Chris Harvey on his day off who removed it and alerted his colleagues.

Officers are now reviewing CCTV to try and identify the offenders and see if any victims may have unwittingly used the cashpoint.

PCSO Harvey advised: "Look out for anything unusual around cash dispensers. This could include unofficial 'out of order' notices that appear to direct users to one particular machine, misaligned or blurry screens or the card seeming to stick when being inserted or ejected from the card slot of the machine.

"Make sure people aren’t standing behind you before you put your card in. If someone is standing too close or you think someone is watching, either offer to let them go first or go to a different cash point.

"Always make sure no one can see you input your PIN number and keep it secret."

Police ask anyone who saw people acting suspiciously near the ATM at the weekend to call 01843 222289 quoting reference number ZY/022160/15 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.