A SUBSTANTIAL amount of cash was stolen from the ATM inside the Co-operative store on Rockfield Road in Monmouth last week as part of a number of attempts to access ATMs in the region.

At around 4.10am last Wednesday (8th November), the offenders gained access to the store by cutting open the roller doors, smashing the glass door and using a gas canister and tools to get inside of the ATM.

Police are now looking for four males in connection to the incident, who were seen in the area in a white BMW 1 Series.

The store was temporarily closed on Wednesday morning while police investigated but was reopened by the afternoon.

A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “During the offence a significant amount of damage was caused to the exterior of the building including a glass door being smashed and a roller shutter being cut open.

“The offenders then used what is believed to be a gas canister and tools to gain entry into a cash machine inside before making off with a substantial amount of cash.”

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 16 08/11/17.

Later in the week three more attempts, one of which was successful, occurred in Gloucestershire. On Friday 10th November officers were called to a garage in Ross Road in Huntley shortly before 1.30am where it was reported that the cash machine had blown from the wall with a gas canister and the contents stolen.

Earlier that night there was an attempted theft of a ATM at the Co-op store in Newerne Street, Lydney.

On Saturday 11th November an attempt was made to remove the cash machine from the Aldi in Stow Road, Moreton in Marsh.

Detective inspector Richard Pegler from Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “We know that some of the notes from the stolen cash machine were affected by the explosion and would like to hear from anyone who is given any money which look as if they have suffered heat damage.

“Fortunately no-one was injured during the incident, but we are keen to identify those responsible and remove the threat of them doing this again.

“This is likely to be the work of a more organised group and may be part of an ongoing series, please be vigilant and report any similar suspicious activity around cash points, particularly those in remote and rural areas.”