A 39-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with fraud after a credit card was stolen from a rubbish bin in Darlington.

Police said the card was taken from a property in Darlington town centre, and used to buy around £50 worth of goods.

The man was arrested when the card’s owner became suspicious of the transactions.

Police have warned residents to be vigilant against fraudsters, and urged people to dispose of their credit cards properly.

A spokeswoman said: “Never throw cards away intact with your rubbish, and don’t cut just cut them in half either, because an identity thief can piece the two halves back together.

“Disable the magnetic strip on the back by cutting it or running a magnet on it, and cut the card into small pieces.”