Thieves use digger to steal fourth Co-op cash machine

The machine was ripped from the wall of the Co-operative in Sapcote in the early hours of Wednesday

A gang using a JCB digger has ripped a cash machine from a Co-op store in Leicestershire.

It is the fourth similar raid in the county in a matter of weeks, with previous incidents in Asfordby, Whetstone and Newbold Verdon.

In the latest attack, which happened at about 01:15 GMT, the machine was pulled from the front of the Co-operative in Sapcote.

Police said there was a "strong possibility" the incidents were linked.

Det Con Stu Palmer said: "It's obviously a great concern to us that thieves are targeting shops and cash machines.

"We are working closely with the premises that have been affected and studying CCTV footage from all of these incidents."

Officers said the machine was taken away in a Toyota Hi-Lux. The digger was abandoned at the scene.

On 7 November, a stolen digger was used to ram the Co-op in Bradgate Lane, Asfordby.

Following the Asfordby attack, the gang drove off towards Hoby on the A46 and abandoned the digger at the scene

Two days earlier, the Co-op in Main Street, Newbold Verdon, was targeted and the cash machine stolen.

The first theft of a cash machine was at the Co-operative supermarket in Dog and Gun Lane, Whetstone, on 21 October.

The incident was linked to the theft of a digger from nearby Springwell Lane.

Leicestershire Police has appealed for anyone with information about any of the raids to contact the force.