Two men wanted after £55,000 cash machine angle grinder raids

Two men are wanted by police in connection with three angle grinder raids on cash machines which led to a gang escaping with £55,000 in cash.

Two months ago, four Merseyside robbers were jailed following the attacks at the ATMs in Warrington, Telford and Wakefield.

The mob's tactic was to gain entry through the roof of convenience stores and then use the tools to prise pen the cash machines.

During one raid in the Locking Stumps district of Warrington, last October, they escaped with £50,000 in banknotes.

Further attacks took place in Wakefield and Telford, in exactly the same way, with £5,000 cash stolen, and then £14,000 of cigarettes stolen from the Shropshire store when the ATM could not be forced open.

Four men, from Huyton, Kirkby, Knotty Ash and Speke, were jailed for sentences ranging between five years and three years and nine months.

(cheshire police)

Now, detectives are trying to locate two more men connected to that gang, who both come from Kirkby,

They are Shaun Blackburn, 36, and Lee Gallagher, 35, who are said to be on the run.

After the four initial members of the crime group were arrested, police raided their homes and discovered a haul of damning evidence.

Angle grinders, mobile phones, high value clothing, watches and more than £14,000 cash were seized during the warrants.

The gang - Mark Edwards, 47, Sean Devereux, 30, Peter O’Neill, 41, and Liam Doherty, 39 - who were jailed for a total of 16 years, carried out recces at the ATM sites, and travelled significant distances as they carried out their plan.

The damage left behind from the roof break-ins and using angle grinders cost thousands of pounds.

Nisa Local on Glover Road in Warrington was one of the shops and ATMs hit by the gang (Google Street View)

During police interviews, the men refused to speak with detectives and denied any involvement.

But when the case came to court, they changed their minds and decided to plead guilty.

Anyone who sees either Blackburn or Gallagher, or has information regarding their whereabouts, is asked to call Cheshire Constabulary immediately on 101, quoting IML 529160.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.