Ram-raid burglary targets ATM at raw milk business
Thieves using a stolen ute have ram-raided a rural farm shed, busting open an ATM and stealing hundreds of dollars in cash.
Logan Johnson, co-owner of Farm Fresh South, a business supplying raw milk near Invercargill, learned of the burglary early on Saturday morning.
‘‘We are a small family business, so [it] hurts. It’s money straight out of our family’s back pocket,’’ he said.
Unfortunately for the thief or thieves, the ATM, located inside a corrugated iron shed, contained less than $1000 in cash, Johnson said. ‘‘I hope they’re disappointed.’’
A police spokeswoman said the burglary, at the Farm Fresh property off State Highway 1, in Woodlands, happened overnight Friday. Police could not confirm the amount taken from the ATM, but suspected a stolen 2006 white Nissan Navara, with the registration BUY530, was used in the burglary.
The burglars would have had knowledge of the building layout, Johnson said. The ATM was inside, out of sight from the road. Two security cameras had been turned around to face the wall, and the security camera and lock on top of the ATM had been cut out with a saw, he said.
Johnson learned of the burglary at 9am on Saturday when he was called by a friend who was driving past and noticed the damaged shed.
Police identified the owners of the stolen ute using damaged car parts left behind at the scene. An object dropped from the ute was identified by the owners, Johnson said.
The shop was closed yesterday morning while police investigated.
Johnson said it would likely take a few weeks to repair the shed. They had cleaned up the area and reopened, but were waiting on insurance inspectors to arrive before starting repairs.
‘‘I’m just glad there wasn’t more money in the ATM,’’ Johnson said.
Police were seeking information on the whereabouts of the Nissan Navara. Anyone with information is asked to contact Acting Sergeant Rebecca Todd at the Invercargill Police Station on 03 211 0400.