ATM raid in early hours
RAM-RAIDERS using an industrial vehicle smashed into a town building society before dawn on Monday to steal its cash machine.
A cordon was put in place in the middle of Earl Shilton from 5.20am after an attack on the Nationwide building society in The Hollow.
Roads were shut off in the centre of the town including The Hollow, Wood Street and Station Road.
The cordons were lifted at about 9.30am, but the damaged building frontage remained closed off by police.
A telehandler vehicle was left abandoned at the scene and three vehicles were reported to have been seen leaving shortly after the raid.
A police spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible for the theft. No arrests have been made at this time.
“An alarm was activated at a building society in The Hollow shortly before 4.15am. Officers attended and it was established the ATM had been removed from the wall using a telehandler, which was left at the scene. It (the cash machine) has since been recovered by police.
“Three vehicles were seen leaving the area and, following police enquires, these vehicles, along with the ATM, were found nearby.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible for the theft. No arrests have been made at this time. All roads in the area have been reopened, but a cordon remains in place at the building society.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 53 of 17 December.”
A spokesman for the building society said: “We are aware of an incident at our Earl Shilton branch.
“This happened in the early hours and no Nationwide employees or members were involved. We are liaising with the police as they carry out their investigation.
“Repair work is under way and we hope to open the branch again as soon as possible.”