Four men who carried out a failed ATM ram raid at a Fenland Spar store have been jailed.
The four: Levi Smith, 49, of Conniston Road, Peterborough, Dale Smith, 28, of Malvern Meadows, Worcester, Leo Smith, 20, of Spriggs Road, Peterborough, and Levi Mitchell, 31, of Gibb Croft, Harlow, were caught red handed after using a JCB teleporter to smash through the front doors of a Spar in London Road, Long Sutton, in the early hours of October 19.
But police – who were on alert following similar raids across the region – were quickly on the scene and managed to arrest Dale Smith as he ran from the stolen teleporter.
Leo Smith and Levi Mitchell were stopped in a flatbed lorry, which had been stolen from Peterborough.
Banned driver Levi Smith got into a red Audi and attempted to drive away, ramming into two police cars, but was eventually stopped and arrested.
All four admitted conspiracy to burgle and were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court today (Friday).
Levi Smith also admitted driving while disqualified.
The investigation was carried out by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) which tackles organised crime across the region.
ERSOU Detective Chief Inspector Neil Ballard said: 'This was a brazen attempt to remove an ATM cash machine from a building using a JCB, and the offenders thought nothing of smashing through the front of the shop, not knowing who was inside the premises.
'Prior to this offence there had been a series of these highly dangerous crimes across the Eastern Region, causing massive damage to buildings and putting the public at significant risk of injury. Other victims of crime also suffered in this series due to the linked theft of high powered getaway vehicles and industrial vehicles to violently enter premises and take away the ATM machines.
'We are continuing to work with private partners and forces across the Eastern Region of England to combat this type of crime, and this case demonstrates that we will catch those responsible and bring them to justice.'
Levi Smith was sentenced to four years imprisonment, Dale Smith received three years and eight months, Levi Mitchell was sentenced to three years, and Leo Smith two years.
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