A woman from Glace Bay, N.S., says she had her bank account cleared out after she mistakenly left her debit card in an ATM last week.

April McKinnon says she stopped at the Credit Union branch to pay some bills. She accidentally left her debit card in the machine but went back to get it later once she realized what she had done.

However, she knew something was wrong when she stopped to get some groceries and was trying to pay for her order at the checkout.

“My card kept declining,” said McKinnon. “I had to drop everything and went back to work and that's when I realized $200 was taken from my account. They literally left me with $30 in my account.”

Though it may seem like not a lot of money to some, it is for the library clerk and single mother of three.

“How can somebody do that? It's just wrong,” said McKinnon. “The economy around here is so hard. Everyone works hard for their money.”

McKinnon says the realization was a tough pill to swallow.

“I cried over this for days,” she said. “It was just an honest mistake. I left my card in the ATM. It was just in a rush trying to get everything done before I go back to work.”

McKinnon says she has contacted Cape Breton Regional Police, who told her it was a man that took her money. They viewed surveillance from inside the Credit Union, but have so far made no arrests.

McKinnon says the money was supposed to be used on gifts for her children, and now they'll be paying the price.

“It's Christmas time. You have bills to pay. You have to feed your kids. You have to put oil in your tank,” she said.

McKinnon says she went public to warn others to be aware and to send a message to the culprit.

“If you're watching, I don't know why you did it. I hope they nab you,” McKinnon said.  

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.