A WOMAN described the horrific moment she saw a gang of raiders bundling a cash point into the back of a car during a shocking ram-raid late last night.
Callous thieves drove a car into the One Stop post office in Basingstoke Road, Spencers Wood, destroying the shop front.
Once inside, they hoisted the cash machine into the back of a vehicle while the store's alarm bellowed.
A witness revealed how she and her mother watched in horror from their home as the crooks shouted instructions at each other before speeding off with the cash machine, shortly after 3.30am.
She said: “It was horrific.
“My mum woke me up because I didn't hear the initial bang.
“We saw two cars, there was a silver Volvo and an older car which was dark blue or black.
“The men were all wearing dark clothing and they covered their faces. They had English accents.
“They took the cash point from inside the shop. They must have caused so much damage.
“There was lots of shouting and the alarm was going off. It was really loud.
“They were shouting at each other because they knew they had drawn a lot of attention.”
Police officers sealed off the store with blue and white tape today and were seen knocking on residents' doors to take statements.
The thugs were seen loading the cash point into the back of a car.
Neighbours took to social media to describe their shock at the incident and wished the store's owner, who was on holiday at the time of the raid, well.
The witness, who asked not to be named, continued: “They were trying to escape as fast as possible.
“They got the cash machine in the car but it pushed the car so low to the ground that the other car had to ram into it to give it a push start.
“The car with the machine in drove off first. They sped off towards Swallowfield.
“It was all really scary.
“The owner is just the nicest man. Nobody deserves this to happen.
“I just hope police find who is responsible.”
Officers investigating the raid urged anyone with information to contact them on 101 immediately.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police added: “We received a report of 2 vehicles which deliberately crashed into the front of a shop in Basingstoke Rd, Spencers Wood at around 3.40am today.
“Thieves targeted an ATM at the store.
“Police officers are carrying out house to house enquiries as part of the investigation. Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 and quote ref 136 18/7.”
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