Castle Street raid bagged £100,000
A GANG that blew up a cash machine in Macclesfield town centre and escaped with £100,000 attempted 14 other heists.
The five men struck at the Co-op Bank ATM, on Castle Street, in the early hours of the morning and the amount they stole was their single biggest haul.
But they had successfully blown up six more and attempted the same thing at eight others across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Wales and Yorkshire over a period running from March 2018 to February this year.
A police operation was launched following a spike in ATM offences in mid-2018. Machines were blown up and safes opened with angle grinders.
And now five men face lengthy jail sentences having appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court.
They include: Lewis Murkin, 33, of Daresbury Close, Stockport; Philip Clarke, 32, of Woodland Avenue, Manchester; Ryan Wilson, 31, of Chelford Grove, Stockport, and Michael Cash, 30, of Weldon Crescent, Stockport.
All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or property; and conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal.
Martin Goldstraw, 43, of Tarporley Close, Stockport, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
By piping gas into the machines then igniting it to cause an explosion, they netted £418,500. Nearly all the raids were at Co-op stores - and always between midnight and 5am.
The Macclesfield raid happened on January 5, this year, and just over a month later some of the gang were caught at an attempt at a Post Office on Lees Road, in Oldham.
During their spree the gang had made a caravan park in Rhyl their HQ, mingling with holidaymakers while plotting their heists.
Sergeant Rick Castley, from the serious and organised crime group, said: “When they were arrested, they had gas canisters in the back of the car and all the cutting equipment.
“We had a surveillance operation, we were behind them that day. It was clear what they were going to do.
“It is quite unique, people blowing up ATMs. By the nature of the methods used, we identified 14 offences as being linked.
“It was early 2019 that we had to start a proactive operation and start looking at certain people.
“There are not many people with the expertise or knowledge. You are only looking at one or two teams doing it in the region.”