THIEVES used a JCB to ram-raid a petrol station in Swallowfield this morning (Wednesdsay).

At around 2.12am, a yellow telehandler vehicle was stolen by a group of around four offenders from a business property in Bloomfield Hatch Lane, in Grazeley.

The vehicle travelled along the A33 to a BP Garage in Swallowfield, where it was used to attempt to steal an ATM cash point at around 2.32am.

The offenders caused extensive damage but were unable to separate the ATM from its concrete surroundings and drove away in another vehicle without the ATM.

No one was injured during the incident. The telehandler was left at the scene.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Erika King, of the Investigation Hub based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation and are working to establish the circumstances and to identify the offenders.

“I would like to speak to anyone in the area who noticed a yellow telehandler vehicle travelling in the area in the early hours of Wednesday. The vehicle is likely to have been travelling slowly and may have been in convoy with another vehicle.

“If you have any information which could assist our investigation, please contact police.”

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting the reference ‘43180278718’ or you can make a report online at https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

If you do not want to speak to police, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.