POLICE are appealing for witnesses after the fourth cashpoint raid in the Bordon area since September 2018.

The latest raid took place between 4.37am and 5am on Wednesday, June 3 at the McColl’s convenience store in Pinehill Road.

A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for witnesses following the theft of an ATM machine in Bordon.

“A JCB telehandler was stolen from a nearby building site and caused extensive damage to the shop front, pulling the ATM from the building.

“The ATM was then dropped into the rear of a van and driven away. A short while later a Ford Transit van, believed to be connected to the incident, was set on fire in Greatham.

“Did you see or hear the movement of the telehandler or Transit van in the area around this time, or do you have CCTV or dash-cam footage that could help in our enquiries?

“If you noticed anything suspicious, or have information that may help our enquiries, contact 101, reference 44200197983, or let Crimestoppers know anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Local residents say police were alerted as the raid started, and police arrived about an hour or so later after the robbers had made their getaway with the cashpoint.

But in another statement, police said their first officer arrived at the scene at 4.48am.

A spokesman said: “We were called at 4.37am, and received alert of an intruder alarm at 4.38am.

“Officers were deployed and en route by 4.39am. I don’t know where they were deployed from. The first officer arrived on scene at 4.48am.”

Before this latest raid, a cashpoint was stolen from the Tesco store in Bordon High Street on June 17, 2018, then on September 21, 2018, one was taken from Sleaford Service Station, Bordon. On August 22, a cashpoint at Cashzone, Headley, was targeted.

Three men were jailed last June for their part in the Sleaford Garage robbery; Jason Mobey, 40, of Macdonald Road, Farnham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary (non-dwelling) and conspiracy to commit robbery and was jailed for ten years, eight months.

Les Keet, 29, of Cobbetts Close, Normandy, pleaded guilty to similar charges and was jailed for eight years.

Jimmy Shea, 24, of Nursery Road, Alton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary (non-dwelling). He was jailed for six years.

In April this year, Jesse Matthews, 19, of Coniston Road, Bordon, was charged with conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life between August 2019 and January 2020.

Along with Matthews, four other people face similar charges in relation to the Headley cashpoint incident and 13 other similar incidents including at Santander Bank in Rams Walk, Petersfield.