Parking scam card readers discovered

Battery operated card readers were found and removed from car parks in Bishop Auckland

Small battery operated card readers have been discovered on car park payment machines and tariff boards in a town.

The devices discovered in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, which were being used in a parking scam, were removed from car parks earlier this week, police said.

Durham County Council's traffic management section manager Kieron Moralee said the scam had been reported to police and confirmed: "We never use these devices for any of our on- or off-street parking."

He encouraged motorists to look out for any devices that appear suspicious, as well as any QR codes attached to parking machines as the council does not use them.

The devices had been placed at the Castle Chare, Victoria Avenue and Kingsway car parks.

Bishop Auckland Town Council said: "There may be more in the area or they could potentially reappear in the future."

Mr Moralee said: "We can confirm that we have identified and removed all the battery-operated card readers from affected car parks in Bishop Auckland."

He said anyone who encounters or suspects a parking scam should contact the local authority's parking services team or the police.

"As soon as we have been made aware of an issue, we will attend and investigate as quickly as possible to ensure others don't fall victim," Mr Moralee said.