16548/1USERS of a cashpoint at a Melksham supermarket are being advised to check their bank balances after a sophisticated cloning device was discovered.

A member of the public discovered the suspicious device on the cash machine in Sainsbury's car park, Bank Street, on Saturday afternoon at about 3.45pm.

It was reported to the police, who identified it as a sophisticated cloning device, capable of recording the magnetic identity of a cash card, as well as the pin number.

Insp Gary Porter, of Melksham police, said anyone who used the cash machine, which is owned by Sainsbury's Bank, should contact their bank.

No incidents of cloning have yet been reported but he said: "It's often the case with cloning that people don't realise their card has been cloned until their statement comes through."

Head of Fraud at Wiltshire Police, Det Insp Paul Ginger, said the cloning device, which included a miniature camera, is only the third of its kind to be discovered in Wiltshire in the past 18 months.

Cloning devices have also been found in Chippenham and Trowbridge.

He said the device discovered in Melksham was normally used by organised criminal gangs.

"I thought we were going to get away without this. We haven't been hit with them big time but they are obviously getting down here," he said.

"What it means is that the public of Wiltshire has got to be very vigilant.

"All the time I see people using the cashpoint and they are not aware of what's going on around them."

He said users must always check cash machines and take care to cover up their pin numbers.

"If anybody spots one of these devices inform the police or the bank immediately but do not try to remove the device yourself," he said. The reason for this is because these organised crime groups have been known to use serious violence."

Mark Brinkworth, duty manager of Sainsbury's in Melksham, said they were working with the police.

Although there are CCTV cameras in the car park, they do not cover the cash machines.