POLICE have had a breakthrough in their investigations into a cash machine scam that resulted in a customer being beaten up.

As reported yesterday, a man was punched to the ground after a false front fitted by crooks to a cash machine outside Barclays Bank in Kings Road, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, came off in his hand.

Security camera footage showed how the events unfolded - from the false front coming off in the man's hand to him being approached by the gang and then attacked.

The gang - thought to be east European - were posing as potential customers in a queue at the cash machine.

Sunday's attack is being linked to an incident at Barclays Bank, in High Street, Yarm, near Stockton, a day earlier, when a customer was challenged by five men.

When another Barclays customer removed a device from a cash machine at Redcar, east Cleveland, at the weekend, he was approached by two men, who recovered the false front, saying they were police officers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.