A VIOLENT gang of criminals is operating a sophisticated con using false cash machine fronts.

The gang is thought to be responsible for three incidents of false fronts being placed over Barclays Bank machines in Teesside.

One bank customer in North Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, was punched to the ground by a gang on Sunday night.

The false cover at the bank machine in Kings Road came off in his hands at about 7.30pm on Sunday.

He was soon surrounded by six men and was kicked and punched to the ground.

At about 6.30pm on Saturday, there was a similar incident at Barclays in Yarm High Street, when a customer was challenged by five men who had been loitering in the vicinity.

Another Barclays customer removed a device from a machine in Station Road, Redcar, at about 10pm on Saturday. He was challenged by two men who said they were police officers and who took the equipment.

Sergeant Gynn Bass, of Cleveland Police, said criminal gangs often invested hundreds of pounds in the equipment and did not want to lose it.

He said most banks were sympathetic with victims, but said some people may not realise small amounts of money were being taken from their accounts over a period of time. He said: "The main message we want to get across is to leave the equipment where it is and immediately go into the bank or call the police."

Descriptions have been given of the gang who assaulted the customer in North Ormesby. Three are olive-skinned, between 5ft4in and 5ft8in. One was plump, in his late 30s to early 40s, with short black hair and had stubble.

The shortest was fat and balding, and another was a white male.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.