A mid Norfolk town’s only remaining cash machine has been left out of service after being smashed by a group of thieves who tried to steal money from inside it.
The incident happened outside the Spar store on Ollands Road, in Reepham, at around 1am on Monday, March 16.
It is the third time in eight years an ATM has been targeted in the town based between Bawdeswell and Aylsham. Back in 2012, a raid was carried out at the HSBC bank, although that branch is now closed.
Then in April 2018, less than two years ago, thieves used a JCB to steal the cash point from the side of the Post Office in Market Place. The JCB was burned out and left abandoned in the middle of the road.
Although the owners of Johnson’s of Reepham were able to keep trading, an official reopening event took place in August 2019 after extensive work took place to repair the damage.
And while residents and visitors to the town are still able to get money out from the Post Office, the recent attempted theft means they are now unable to use the village’s sole remaining ATM.
Reepham Town Council chairman, Les Paterson, said: “I suspect a lot of people are paying by card anyway at the moment but not having the ATM will still have an impact on the town - they are very, very vulnerable in the town.”
Officers are now investigating the attempted theft.
A spokesperson for the police said: “Police are investigating the attempted theft of an ATM machine outside the Spar Store on Ollands Road in Reepham.
“Officers were called to reports of a car containing up to five people acting suspiciously in the area [at the time].
“It’s believed they had attempted to steal the cash machine and made off before police arrived at the scene.
“The cash machine was damaged as a result.”
A representative for the Spar store branch declined to comment.
- Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact Norfolk Police on 101 quoting incident number nine on Monday, March 16 2020.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here