Cash machine gang leave trail of destruction
BRAZEN robbers tied a rope around an EMPTY cash machine and dragged it out of a Post Office with a van.
Four masked men broke into the store, on Eccles New Road in Salford.
The gang smashed their way in through a shutter, pulling a rope attached to a van parked outside.
They then tied the rope around a cash machine, before pulling it out of the doors with a van.
The machine, which left a trail of destruction, was then bundled into the vehicle before the men fled.
Owner Liaqat Ali said the cash machine was empty.
The incident caused damage of between £5,000 and £10,000.
The machine crashed into shelves, smashed a coffee machine and destroyed products on sale.
Mr Ali, 50, stayed up all night sorting out the shop to make sure it was presentable for customers the following day.
He told the M.E.N.: “It was shocking. I have had this shop for 18 years and it is the first time I’ve had a break-in.
“It is the first time I have had serious criminal damage to my property.”
A GMP spokesman said: “We were called to the Post Office just before 10.50pm on Sunday, July 16. It has been reported four people in a van searched inside and then tied something around a cash machine before dragging it out.
“They have driven off with it in the back and stolen a quantity of cigarettes.” No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 2296 of July 16.