Illegal migrant fits theft device to ATM
Illegal immigrants are being smuggled into the West Midlands in exchange for agreeing to fit devices to cash machines to plunder bank accounts, it has emerged.
Illegal immigrants are being smuggled into the West Midlands in exchange for agreeing to fit devices to cash machines to plunder bank accounts, it has emerged.
The ruse was revealed yesterday when Ukranian Valic Birka admitted fitting an ATM at Barclays Bank in Aldridge with a camera to record details and a plastic holder that retains cards. The court heard he had been driven to the town by a man called Andre who had helped bring him to England on the basis he would set up the device to fleece bank customers.
It is the second device to be detected in a matter of days. Romanians Sorinel Dan and Viorel Mihut used a similar trick at a cash point in Lichfield Street, Walsall.
Birka, of no fixed address, appeared at Walsall Youth Court yesterday claiming that he was 17 and that he had arrived in the UK two months ago to earn money to send home.
District Judge Michael Morris decided Birka was lying about his age and said he should be named. He remanded him in custody to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on August 18.
Birka pleaded guilty to theft of a bank card and having articles for use in fraud.
Ruth Childs, prosecuting, said suspicions were raised on Wednesday when a man had his card kept by the machine. After contacting the bank he was informed it had not been retained by Barclays.
Police started to monitor the cash point and when another customer was having problems the next day Birka was seen standing nearby observing.
He was arrested soon after. No money was obtained in the scam.
Sheila Hicklin, defending, said Birka became involved in the fraud in exchange for being brought into the UK.
"When interviewed at Walsall police station, he accepted what he did was wrong but was under obligation to repay the debt."
District Judge Morris told Birka: "Fraud from ATM machines is a major concern in this country. It causes great loss to the banking system and causes considerable worry for card users.
"You are in the UK illegally, and you have taken part in a professional operation of theft and fraud."
