My friend visited my neighbourhood this afternoon/evening. We spent a delightful time at a gastropub (the last time she made a payment on her card), then we went back to mine for a couple of drinks. Upon leaving she realised that her contactless debit card was missing. We assume she didn't secure it properly after paying at the pub and that it dropped out of her coat/bag.
She called up the bank straight away and it transpires that over the course of two hours someone had made seven transactions at four different locations (in a half mile radius) at just under £30 each time, so to the tune of £150-200. The bank have said they'll reimburse her.
We know exactly where the transactions were made and how much. There will be no investigation (which is completely understandable). But I feel like I want to do my own 'investigation', at least going to each location and saying what happened and asking whether those payments ring a bell. I don't expect them to pull out CCTV or to start a big manhunt, but it doesn't sit right that this person, who is obviously local, committed such theft under their and our noses.
What are we meant to do in such circumstances? (Obviously cancelling any contactless cards to prevent this happening again). Will the shops appreciate knowing that fraud has occurred and to look out for the thief in the future?