ATM ram raid getaway cars found on track

TWO vehicles used in a ram raid where a digger was used to rip out a cash machine from a bank wall have been found in village near Hinckley.

Leicestershire Police have recovered a blue Audi and a silver Nissan Navarro believed to have been used as getaway cars following the attack on the Nationwide branch in the centre of Ashby.

They were discovered well hidden along a track off Wood Road in Nailstone by a member of the public on Saturday night.

Police had appealed for help in tracing the vehicles following the audacious smash and grab which happened at around 3am on Monday July 10 in Market Street.

Daring burglars drove a Bobcat telehandler to repeatedly crash into the bank wall and lift the teller out onto the street.

The digger driver’s accomplices then put the machine on to a waiting pick-up truck.

CCTV footage was released of the Bobcat telehandler emerging from a side street and aligning itself with the front of the shop.

The vehicle’s extended arm crashes through the window and, after at least three attempts, takes out the ATM.

Police said the raid caused extensive damage to the building and left debris strewn across Market Street, which had to be closed for several hours as a result.

Detectives believed three vehicles were used in the burglary, a dark-coloured Audi, a silver pickup and the Bobcat telehandler.

It appears the Audi and pick-up have now been found.

Detective Constable Miranda Granger, who is leading the investigation, said: “The Bobcat was used to ram the front of the building in order for the suspects to remove the cash machine, which caused a significant amount of disruption.

“We have released the CCTV footage which clearly shows three vehicles in the area and the incident itself taking place.

“We would like to hear from anyone who might have seen these vehicles in the Nailstone area between July 10 and July 15 when they were found abandoned. Do you recall seeing anything suspicious in the area, do you know who was responsible? Any information could be important.”

Contact Det Con Granger on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

*See a video of the ramraid at www.Hinckleytimes.net