Thieves steal ATMs with construction vehicles

Thieves used construction vehicles to rip ATMs from stores in Warwickshire and Bedfordshire villages in two separate large-scale nighttime smash and grab raids.

Officers responded to a report at the Fenny Compton Co-op on November 3 after thieves employed a telehandler to pry the cash machine from the premises.

The store had previously experienced a similar incident, as thieves had used a digger to steal a cashpoint from it in June 2019.

Similar break-ins targeting Co-op locations in Warwickshire have occurred lately. On October 16, a telehandler was driven into a Shipston-on-Stour store around 2 AM, and the ATM was taken away.

The Heart of England Co-op issued a statement in response to the incident, which read: “We are deeply saddened by the incident at our Fenny Compton store. Our thoughts are very much with our store manager Debbie Pugh and her team, who have shown incredible resilience during an extremely distressing experience.”

Stratford Police took to social media to report and comment on the raid, saying: “We’re conducting additional patrols and have launched a full investigation following the theft of an ATM in Fenny Compton. We received a report that a telehandler was used to remove the ATM machine from a shop on High Street in Fenny Compton.”

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Bedfordshire Police discovered an abandoned ATM on an M1 exit ramp after learning of a forced-entry attack at a village shop. The Premier store in Toddington was targeted with a digger at about 5 AM on November 4.

According to accounts, three individuals loaded the ATM into a white van before leaving the area. Both the van and the machine were later found discarded on the slip road, while the suspects fled in another vehicle.

Bedfordshire Police urged anyone with details about the robbery to come forward, encouraging witnesses to share footage or information with authorities.

They are investigating the incident and are seeking help from the public to identify the perpetrators.

The police are urging anyone with information, particularly those with CCTV or doorbell camera footage, to contact them citing Incident 26 of 4 November through their web reporting tool or by calling 101, as they work to bring those responsible to justice and prevent future incidents. The Heart of England Co-op also expressed gratitude to the community for their understanding and support during this difficult time, and announced that the store will remain temporarily closed while essential repairs are carried out.

Additionally, the digger used in the Toddington raid was abandoned at the scene, and the suspects in the Fenny Compton incident set the telehandler on fire before making off with the stolen ATM, highlighting the severity of the crimes and the need for public assistance in the investigations.