CO-OP STORE DESTROYED IN CASH MACHINE RAM RAID
HUGE BLAZE STARTED AFTER THIEVES SMASHED THROUGH HONLEY SHOP
A VILLAGE was sealed off after ramraiders attacked a Co-op store, sparking a devastating blaze.
Raiders in an Audi Q7 targeted a cash machine at the Co-op, in Westgate, Honley, in the early hours of yesterday.
It is believed the raiders’ bid to smash out the cash machine caused a fire which ripped through the building.
At its height, eight fire crews tackled the blaze.
Crew Commander Jason Rhodes, Huddersfield Fire Station, said the Co-op had been devastated. He said: “The building damage is very significant. Most of the building has been involved in fire.
“It was a three-pump job initially but we found the fire had spread to the offices above the shop. When it spread, it caught in the gap between the floors.
“It will be a long time before it is up and running again, especially with it being just before Christmas.”
West Yorkshire Police were called to the scene at around 2am, and sealed off the centre of the village. Buses had to be diverted during the morning rush hour.
The Audi was found nearby. The suspects fled the scene emptyhanded but abandoned their car in Bradshaw Road.
The Audi was dumped on the side of the road around 200 metres up from the junction with Meltham Road.
A heavy-duty metal cable could still be seen wrapped around rear of the car and through the open front windows.
West Yorkshire Police officers guarded the car while recovery could be arranged. Officers also guarded the scene around the Co-op building.
The road was shut to pedestrians and motorists while fire investigators worked to determine exactly how the fire started.
A police spokesman said: “Officers were called at around 2am to the shop on Westgate.
“An Audi Q7 is believed to have rammed the ATM
machine, causing a fire. The suspects made off empty-handed. The vehicle has since been recovered.
“Enquiries are ongoing by Kirklees CID.”
Pictures of the inside of the store revealed the scale of the devastation.
The blackened and twisted remains of the cash machine could also be seen, still inside the shop.
A Co-op spokesman said: “We can confirm that there was an attempted attack on the ATM at our Honley store in the early hours of Wednesday morning, which has resulted in a fire.
“Fortunately, no store colleagues or customers were present at the time. CCTV has been shared with the police, who are investigating, and we would ask anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
“The store is currently closed while we assess the damage caused and we would ask customers to consider using Honley’s petrol station Co-op store, located on Huddersfield Road, just over half a mile away.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting crime reference 13190645439 or by using the online options at www.westyorkshire.police. uk/contactus
Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
It will be a long time before the store is up and running again
Fire station crew Commander Jason Rhodes