Cash machine thieves use digger

The thieves smashed through the wall to get the cash machine

A mechanical digger has been used to smash into a wall and rip out a cash machine in south Oxfordshire.

Three men wearing balaclavas used the digger in a ram-raid at the Summit petrol station in School Lane, Stadhampton, in the early hours.

The digger was abandoned at the scene and the thieves made off with the cash in a stolen lorry and pick-up truck, which were later found burnt out.

Shop manager Mohammad Farooq commended his staff for their actions.

"These things happen , no point getting too stressed about it," he said.

"It is only going to wind you up more. Staff were very happy to carry on with the day as normal, so we did.

"We didn't want to disappoint any of our regular clientele."

The pick-up truck was stolen from Great Rollright and the Ford Transit flat-bed lorry taken from Wallingford.

Both were later found burnt out in Tetsworth.

JCB 'stolen'

Police said they also believe the JCB, which has the registration plate of N89 YKO, was stolen and they were trying to trace its owners.

Det Sgt Darren Cartwright, said: "I would ask farmers and builders to check they have their machinery and report any thefts to us immediately.

"The ATM could have been dumped in a field or hedgerow and so I ask people to be vigilant and contact the police if they see anything suspicious or unusual.

"I also appeal to anyone who might have seen the other two vehicles being driven prior to the raid, or before they had been burnt, to get in touch."