Thieves steal ATMs at Tesco Extra by ramming them with digger during midnight heist

Cashpoints were wrenched from the wall at a Tesco store (Picture: PA)

Criminals have used a large digger to ram-raid ATM machines attached to a Tesco Extra store.

Kent Police launched an investigation after thieves ripped out two cashpoints during a midnight heist in Whitfield, near Dover.

The machines were loaded onto a flat-bed truck, which was driven in convoy with two Mitsubishi Shogun vehicles at around 12.30am on Monday from Honeywood Parkway.

As the suspects attempted to leave the area, two police cars blocked their exit, but were smashed up in the process.

Thieves have used a digger to carry out a ram-raid and ripped an ATM from the wall (PA)

Kent Police said no serious injuries were reported and the force is appealing to residents with relevant dash-cam footage or CCTV to get in touch.

It is not know how much money was in the ATMs.

Tesco confirmed that the store remained open on Monday with a spokesman adding: “Our Dover Extra is open and serving customers as normal following the incident last night and we’re helping police with their enquiries.”

Anyone with information should call 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/52654/20 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.