Stolen pick-up truck used to drag cash machine from Spital petrol station



RAIDERS used a stolen pickup truck to drag a cash machine from a Wirral petrol station.

The thieves struck at a BP garage in Brimstage Road, Spital, in the early hours of Friday January 13.


It is understood they attached a harness from the vehicle to the Link ATM machine, which was in a stand on the forecourt.
It was later found half a mile away near Spital train station after being dragged along the road.

It left a trail of debris in its wake and caused damage to the road, pavement and walls along the route.

Detectives are investigating whether any money was stolen – but staff at the petrol station said they thought the cash machine had been abandoned after anti-theft dye was released from the machine as it was moved.

It would have stained the notes blue, making them instantly unusable.
A worker at the petrol station said: “We close at 10pm but on our cameras you can see them attaching something from the van to the cash machine.
“Then they dragged it away but they did not get any money. They got to Spital Road and left it there.”
Merseyside Police has appealed for anyone who saw either a yellow pick-up truck or a blue Jaguar car in the area at the time to come forward.
The blue Jaguar had the registration plate covered with tape.
The yellow pick-up truck was stolen from Home Farm, in Childer Thornton, overnight between Wednesday January 10 and Thursday January 11.
Its registration is W273 PTR and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen it between when it was stolen and the theft of the ATM machine.
DI Anne Rannard, of Merseyside Police, said: “We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen either vehicle in the area around the time of the theft.
“We take offences of this nature very seriously and are following up several lines of inquiry.
“We are determined to find those responsible for this offence and we ask anyone with any information that could help this investigation to call us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call Wirral CID on 0151-777 2265, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THE WIRRAL NEWS