Monday 3 August 2009

Romanians At It Again


A Romanian cashpoint thief has a date with the Old Bailey after police caught him red-handed fitting a ‘Lebanese Loop’ device to a hole-in-the-wall in the City.

Gheorge Laeselu,41, of 130a Barking Road, Forest Gate pleaded guilty to possessing an article in connection with fraud at Barclays Bank, Minories, Aldgate on June 3.

City of London Magistrates Court heard police were called after Laeselu and a fellow-Romanian accomplice were seen acting suspiciously near the cashpoint and he was arrested after a short chase.

When searched the ‘Lebanese Loop’ – a plastic sleeve fraudsters insert into the card slot – was found on Laeselu along with a tube of glue used to fix it to the machine.

When inserted the thin sleeve holds unwitting customers’ cards in the cashpoint as the fraudsters watch them repeatedly type in their PIN number.

Victims believe the machine has swallowed their card and leave, allowing the criminals to then fleece the account.

“This is a prevalent offence of potential high value,” bench Chairman Edward Lord told Laeselu, committing him in custody to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on August 28.

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