Two groups of 'shoulder surfers' to appear in court

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Two groups of alleged 'shoulder surfers' will be appearing at separate Auckland courts tomorrow after allegedly fleecing their elderly victims of tens of thousands of dollars.

Noel Karora, 37, was arrested in Auckland on Monday, and charged with burglaries in Dunedin, Invercargill and Auckland over cases of so-called shoulder surfing -- where the offenders watch a victim enter their Eftpos pin number and later steal the card.

Karora is due to appear at Waitakere District Court tomorrow. His co-accused Paul Tipene is still at large.

"Unfortunately, they are pretty good at what they do," Invercargill Detective Sergeant Stu Harvey told the Otago Daily Times earlier this year.

he said the total value of thefts linked to the pair was "into the tens of thousands of dollars, easily".

Mr Harvey told NZME. the pair's alleged shoulder surfing was a very specific way of operating and not a common type of offending.

"However, we have real concerns that Mr Tipene will be continuing this type of offending in the busier retail period up until Christmas, and targeting elderly people."

Four alleged shoulder surfers from South Auckland are also due to appear at North Shore District Court tomorrow.

Their appearance follows a spate of thefts earlier this year where elderly victims were targeted at Auckland supermarkets.

One instance involved a man in his 70s who was targeted while grocery shopping at Sylvia Park Pak'n Save in September.

Police believe someone watched him enter his pin, then followed him home and waited until he and his wife had gone to bed.

The thieves broke in and stole his cards as the couple slept.

Protecting yourself from shoulder skimming:

* Guard your card and treat it like cash. Don't leave it lying around and make sure you know where it is at all times.

* Protect your pin and never tell it to anyone.

* Cover up when entering your pin number at ATMs and Eftpos terminals.

* Check your statements and advise your bank immediately of any unauthorised transactions.