Attempted Theft Of ATM At Asda, Wheatley

THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a gang were disturbed as they prepared to steal a cash machine from Asda, Wheatley.
At around 5am on Saturday (January 14), police were called after a workman at a contractor?s yard which runs alongside the Asda site saw thieves driving an excavator out of the gates.
Having realised he had been spotted, the person driving the excavator jumped out and ran to a waiting Mitsubishi Shogun which made off at speed. A Mitsubishi Shogun and a Land Rover Discovery were recovered near the Oxford Brookes University campus in Wheatley a short time later. Both vehicles are believed to have been used by the offenders.

DC Michael Hooker, of Thame CID, said: “It seems a gang had planned to pull the cash machine from the wall and had organised a number of vehicles in order to achieve this. Several have been recovered but we are still searching for a low-loader which we believe would have been used to transport the machine had the raid been successful.
“Although it was early this morning, on the outskirts of Wheatley, I would appeal to anyone who was in the area ? motorists or dog walkers for example, to get in touch if they saw anything which may be connected.”

Anyone who has information which could assist is urged to contact DC Hooker via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, if you don?t wish to speak to police or leave your name, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.