A cash machine containing tens of thousands of pounds was ripped from an off-licence store front in Stamford.
According to Lincolnshire Police, Booze 4 Less shop in Stirling Road in Stamford was targeted in the early hours of the morning of Tuesday (14).
Multiple reports from members of the public reported police at around 1.53 am that a yellow JCB was ripping out the cash machine in the shop.
The full cash machine was removed and taken with the offenders. It is believed that tens of thousands of pounds were stolen, stated the police, adding that it won't be able to confirm an exact figure as that forms part of the investigation.
The JCB was left at the scene, and is believed to have been stolen from a farm in Uffington.
Minutes later, further reports came in that at least two people believed to have been involved had made off in a white Nissan Navara 4x4. It is unclear what direction the vehicle left in.
"Our investigation into the theft of an ATM from Booze 4 Less in Stamford has led to a number of new lines of enquiry, and we’re now asking for further help from the local community.
"We believe there may have been people in the area in the days leading up to the break in who might have been watching the store, or checking roads in and out of the area, or carrying out other surveillance.
"We are asking people who may have already checked doorbell cameras, CCTV, or dashcam around the time of the incident to check footage from between Friday 10 November and the date of the incident (13 November) and see if there is anything out of the ordinary. This could be unusual vehicles parked in one spot for prolonged periods of time, a vehicle repeatedly returning to the area, or people on foot watching the store or surrounding properties.
"We would also ask if anyone hasn't yet checked footage from any time, to please do so and get in touch with anything that could help," Lincolnshire police stated in an appeal today (16).
A similar incident has happened in Soham where raiders used a JCB teleporter to smash into a shop front in the early hours.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary was called by a member of the public to the Londis store in Hall Street in Soham at about 02:00 GMT on Tuesday (14). Suspects left with a cash machine on a flatbed van which police said was later recovered.
