This was the scene of devastation after brazen thieves ram-raided a Barclays bank – to carry the cash machine away in the jaws of a stolen four-tonne digger.
The smash-and-grab gang left a 12ft gaping hole in the front of the bank where they ripped out the ATM machine before loading it onto a 4X4 getaway truck and speeding off.
The daring raid took place at the branch just feet away from a CCTV camera which was not thought to have been switched on at the time.
Cops are hunting four men, wearing balaclavas and hoods, who struck at the bank in the high street in Long Sutton, Lincs., in the early hours of August 2.
They used a stolen Claas teleporter to tear out the cash machine before loading it onto the back of the 4×4 pick-up truck.
Despite taking place in full view of CCTV cameras, it is not thought they were working at the time.
Parish councillor John Clarey said: “I’m absolutely amazed a raid like that could take place in the centre of town when two CCTV cameras were on the bank wall.
“What’s the point of paying out £2,000 on CCTV cameras if there’s nothing on the screen?”
Lincolnshire Police yesterday confirmed they were investigating the raid.
