Brazen thieves pinch pub fruit machine
Thieves recreated a scam shown on the Real Hustle TV show to steal a licensee's fruit machine from right under their nose.
The Ring O'Bells in Royston, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire, had its AWP machine, which was filled with up to £600 in cash, stolen after thieves posed as employees from their supplier and removed it from the premises.
In the BBC programme, which aims to reveal how scams work so viewers can avoid being ripped off by the same con, scammers visited a pub to check the name of supplier in advance.
They then called ahead to inform the licensee that employees would collect the machine for an upgrade. When they arrived, dressed in uniforms complete with company logos, and in a van decorated with the company livery, they got the licensee's permission to remove the machine and said they would come back in with a replacement. But as soon as they left the pub, they drove off.
Nick Rudd, operations director, at games machine supplier Bob Rudd Leisure, said scammers had tricked the licensee at the Ring O'Bells with the same story. He warned hosts to "check ID from anyone who claims to be from the company and if ever in doubt to phone head office to check".
He said the machine would cost around £2,000 to replace. "We suffer when the machine goes missing, both in terms of rent, cash inside and cost to replace it," added Rudd.
Joanne Glover, host at the Thwaites-owned pub, said: "It's unbelievable. I feel quite nervous — in this game people come to the door all the time. I shall be extra vigilant from now on. I do feel a bit silly, as I didn't check their ID. I don't normally though — they just seemed so genuine."
The police are now investigating the case.
Watch how the scam works:
