Thieves used a 4x4 vehicle to steal a cash machine from a petrol station in Great Barton.

Eastern Daily Press: Thieves stole part of an ATM machine from outside the Esso garage in Great Barton on April 19. Picture: CHRIS SHIMWELLThieves stole part of an ATM machine from outside the Esso garage in Great Barton on April 19. Picture: CHRIS SHIMWELL (Image: Archant)

The 'audacious' crime, which happened right on the A143, has surprised and saddened residents and is the first time the village has been targeted in such a way in recent years.

'The village values the filling station as a convenience not only for fuel but other consumable goods,' said the parish council chairman Philip Reeve.

'It's rather sad to hear of such things going on. It reinforces the point one needs to be neighbourly to keep vigilance uppermost,' he said.

'I was surprised and saddened. You don't think it happens on your doorstep. It's a bit of a shock to local residents and garage staff.'

A member of the public rang police shortly before 3.45am on Wednesday morning to say a group of people 'appeared to be pulling out the standalone ATM at the garage' and a 4x4 with a spare tyre on the back was leaving the scene.

When police arrived the perpetrators had gone. At this stage it is not clear how much cash has been stolen but officers said 'considerable damage' was caused.

Parts of the machine remained scattered across the building's forecourt as officers investigated. A spokeswoman from the force said it appears as though the vehicle was used to pull the top part of the machine out.

The village's St Edmundsbury borough councillor Sarah Broughton said she was shocked that thieves would be brazen enough to commit the crime so close to the main road.

'It's shocked me – it's on the main road the A143 – that people have the audacity,' she said.

'It's shocking that in pure visibility of other motorists at night that something like that can happen.

'It's right on the road, that's what extraordinary. I suspect somebody out there must have seen something suspicious. I would urge anybody who saw something to come forward.

'I've lived in the village for 23 years and I've not known of anything like that. This is the first time Great Barton, I would say, has been targeted like that. It's a shame.'

An investigation is underway and officers asked anyone who may have seen anything in the area around this time, or a 4X4 vehicle on the roads in the area in the early hours, to call Suffolk Police on 101, quoting crime number 29715/17.