Hammer-wielding thieves pull ATM out of the ground using car

Police are now hunting four men after the brazen heist

Ram-raiding thieves have been caught on CCTV using a hammer to try and break into a cash machine – before towing the ATM out of the ground.

The daring heist happened while a young woman walked casually past on her mobile phone and traffic including a single-decker bus passed without stopping.

Cops are now hunting four men in connection with the raid after seizing an abandoned vehicle.

In CCTV footage, a blue car can be seen reversing on to the pavement and close to the machine outside a Londis in Kingston Road, Teddington, London.

One man, dressed in a black top and jeans with a beanie attached the bands to the machine from the boot of the car at around 12.50am on July 29.

He appeared to become frustrated as he used the hammer to try to smash the back of the machine.

Eventually the car pulled away dragging the cover of the machine down the road behind it – before turning to secure the bands to the boot of the car.

The car pulled away at speed tearing the entire cash machine from its mounting on the pavement and into the air.

One of the men could be seen, still with a hammer in his hand, standing over the rubble-strewn spot where moments before the machine had stood.

A local resident said: “I couldn’t really understand what had happened because I saw the machine lying on its side on the pavement on Tuesday morning and I assumed someone had crashed into it not tried to take it away.”

The Met Police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating the theft of a cash machine from the outside a shop in Kingston Road, Teddington at 00:53hrs on Wednesday, 29 July.

“Although no arrests have been made at this stage, an abandoned vehicle has been seized in connection with the incident, and officers continue to work at pace to identify the four men believed to be involved.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 302/29JUL.

“Anonymous reports can be shared via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 using the same reference number.”

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