A hospital has been ram-raided by thieves in a bungled attempt to steal a cash machine from the building.
A car ploughed into the the rear door of Aintree Hospital in Merseyside at around 3.14am, police have said.
The car, a black and blue Renault Scenic, was then used to take the ATM from the hospital buildling.
But the cash machine was then dumped, after sustaining "extensive damage", and the car fled the scene, the Liverpool Echo reported .
Two other cars - a black BMW Sport and a blue Ford Fiesta - were also involved in the incident. The Ford Fiesta was abandoned in the hospital grounds but the BMW drove off at speed, heading towards the East Lancs Road.
Four men were spotted at the scene, all wearing face coverings. One of the men, who drove the BMW, was spotted holding "what could have been a handgun".
Chief inspector Kevin Chatterton of Merseyside police said: "This was a failed attempt to ram the premises and steal the ATM machine, which is a reckless thing to do.
"Thankfully this attempt was unsuccessful and caused no injuries.
"We take attempts like this seriously and we are determined to find those responsible and put them before the courts. The potential for serious injury and damage is clear, so help us remove these people from the streets.
"If you saw a black BMW making off at speed in the area in the early hours, or if you have a dashcam which may have captured something, let us know.
"A black BMW vehicle may have appeared in the your street this morning, which could be vital in our investigation. Let us know and we will take action on all information provided."
Forensic and CCTV enquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information can contact @MerpolCC, call 101 with reference 0172, or you can call Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
