Police Seek Witnesses to Theft of Bideford Forklift Used in Bank Ramraid Attack
By Moving Pictures | Sunday, February 21, 2010, 13:26
At about 03.15 am Saturday 20th February, offenders attacked an ATM cash
machine, at the National Westminster Bank, Bridge Street in Hatherleigh,
Okehampton.
A stolen red Manitou fork-lift vehicle was used to penetrate the building
and then pull the ATM from the wall in order to gain access to it.
The offenders made off from the scene in an unknown vehicle.
There were possibly 3 males involved who were dressed in reflective clothing
and may have been wearing hard hats.
The Manitou was stolen from the Bideford area, between the evening of
Thursday 18th and early morning on Friday 19th February.
Police are appealing for witness who may have seen this vehicle, which is a
distinctive heavy duty vehicle, capable of a speed of only 40 mph, parked or
being driven between the evening of 18th February and early hours Saturday
20th February, in the areas of Bideford or Okehampton, or anywhere in
between.
Witnesses are encouraged to come forward and report any sightings of this
vehicle to support the investigation.
Also of interest is any suspicious or unusual behaviour demonstrated by
persons in the area of the National Westminster Bank over the previous
weeks.
Please contact 08452 777444 and quote incident log 350 of 20th February.
Information can also be given confidentially via CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800
555111.
Comments
Police are renewing their appeal for witnesses following an ATM raid at Hatherleigh during the early hours of Saturday 20th February 2010.
Video footage is now available showing the stolen red Manitou heavy duty fork-lift truck entering Hatherleigh at approximately 1955hrs on Friday 19th February and parking in the Market Car Park, facing the Nat West Bank.
It remains in this position until it is used as a battering ram to smash the frontage of the bank and together with a stolen blue Toyota HiLux 4 x 4, remove the ATM.
Video footage is also available of the Toyota leaving Hatherleigh at approximately 0335hrs on the Saturday and this was followed by an additional dark coloured vehicle believed to have been used by the offenders. There are no further details of this vehicle.
Police are trying to fill the gaps between when the vehicles were stolen and when this offence occurred, particularly with the distinctive red Manitou fork-lift truck travelling between Bideford (where it was stolen during the evening of the 18th February) and Hatherleigh. The Toyota was stolen between 1445hrs and 1515hrs on Thursday 18th February from the Crediton area. It is likely that these vehicles were parked up somewhere in between times and again we are asking the public if they recall seeing these vehicles by the roadside or concealed somewhere off road.
Please contact 08452 777444 and quote incident log 350 of 20th February.
By A_McCormack at 16:07 on 25/02/10
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