Last updated at 22:12, Thursday, 20 May 2010

RAIDERS have tried to steal Maryport Co-op’s cashpoint machine.

Cutting equipment was used in a bid to remove the ATM from the wall.

Police said would-be thieves tried to disconnect the machine overnight last Thursday and must have driven to the supermarket, off Curzon Street, in some kind of pick-up vehicle.

Maryport’s problem solving officer, PC Mark Nicholson, said the metal sheeting around the outside of the cash machine was bent back and the offenders appeared to have used a drill to try to get into it.

When that failed, they then used some kind of oxyacetylene cutting equipment.

The machine is on the outside wall of the Co-op, facing onto the main road through the town.

PC Nicholson said the ATM at the Co-op in Cleator Moor had also been broken into but it was too early to say whether the two incidents were linked.

He added: “Workington CID are following good leads but we would like to hear from anyone who has any information that could help us.”

The theft comes at the same time as police have had to deal with four burglaries in homes in Maryport and Flimby.

PC Nicholson said it was too early to link the crimes but added: “We are looking closely at two individuals who have previous for this kind of offence.”

Goods worth more than £900 have been taken and in three of the offences the thieves gained access to properties through unsecured windows or doors.

A £400 boiler was stolen from an unoccupied house on Buttermere Road in Maryport. Thieves kicked in the back door, shattering the glass panel and forced the lock before entering the building.

They then stole the copper boiler from upstairs by sawing pipe work and bending copper piping to remove the boiler between last Friday and 10am on Tuesday.

A white Nintendo Wii, worth £130, and five Nintendo Wii games worth £150 were stolen from a house in Brook Street, Flimby between May 10 and May 13, and overnight last Saturday a 22-inch flat screen LCD television was stolen from the living room of a home in Buchanan Terrace, Ellenborough, after thieves gained entry through an unlocked door.

A £200 black Saracen Outdoor mountain bike was stolen from a property on Boyd Street, Maryport between 9pm last Friday and 10pm on Saturday.

Police want to hear from anyone who can help. Call 0845 3300 247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

First published at 19:32, Thursday, 20 May 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk