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

The same gang are thought to be responsible for three incidents of false fronts being placed over Barclays Bank uncovered by members of the public in Teesside.

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

The man found the false cover at the bank on Kings Road came off in his hands revealing a light and electrical equipment at about 7.30pm on Sunday. He was soon surrounded by six men, five of whom were foreign, and was kicked and punched to the ground before he gave up the equipment.

On Saturday at about 6.30pm there was a similar incident at Barclays on Yarm High Street when a customer was also challenged by five men who had been loitering nearby. He also gave up the false front.

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

Sergeant Gynn Bass, of Cleveland Police Crime Reduction Unit, said criminal gangs often invested hundreds of pounds in the equipment and would not give it up. He said that most banks were sympathetic to victims but some people may not realise their account is being raided of relatively small amounts of money 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 in to the bank or call the police."

Descriptions have been given of the gang who assaulted the customer in North Ormesby. Three are said to be olive skinned between 5ft 4 and 5ft 8in tall. One plump, in his late 30s to early 40s with short black hair and had a couple of days growth of stubble on his cheeks. The smallest was said to be very fat and balding and another was a white British male.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.