Sevenoaks Officers Taking Positive Action Against Theft

Following a recent “bank follow” theft reported in Sevenoaks town, your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) has been carrying out a range of proactive work in the town aimed at preventing similar offences and helping residents stay safe.

A bank follow offence is where a criminal targets someone after they have withdrawn cash from a bank or ATM, before attempting to steal the money through distraction or theft. 

While these incidents remain rare, we want residents to be aware of the tactics used and know what support is available.

Keeping Yourself Safe

If you're withdrawing cash, please consider the following simple crime prevention measures:

• Be aware of people who may appear overly interested in your transaction or who seem to be loitering nearby.

• Take a moment before leaving the bank or ATM to ensure nobody is following you.

• Keep cash and valuables out of sight and secure.

• If you are withdrawing a large amount of cash, consider taking someone with you or asking the bank about alternative payment methods.

• Be cautious of anyone attempting to distract you shortly after a withdrawal, such as asking for directions, dropping items nearby, or trying to engage you in conversation.

• If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and contact police.

What Police Have Been Doing

Over the past week, officers have been conducting plain clothes patrols and proactive operations in Sevenoaks town centre to identify and deter anyone involved in bank follow or distraction theft offences.

Officers also responded to information regarding suspicious behaviour in the town and carried out checks on individuals who came to police attention as part of this activity.

In addition, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team have visited local banks including:

• Barclays
• NatWest
• HSBC

During these visits, officers provided staff with updates on recent offending, discussed current criminal tactics linked to bank follow and ATM withdrawal thefts and shared crime prevention materials. Safety leaflets and purse chains have also been provided for distribution to customers who may be vulnerable to this type of crime.

Working Together

If you witness suspicious behaviour or have concerns about someone who may be vulnerable to this type of crime, please report it to Kent Police via 101 or 999 in an emergency.