POLICE are hunting a masked gang who ram-raided a village post office in Moray and stole a cash machine.
The thieves reversed a vehicle at high speed into Duffus Post Office early yesterday morning.
Two masked men then prised free the ATM machine, which was attached to the floor with four bolts, and drove away. The whole incident, which was captured on CCTV, took just six minutes.
The theft of the ATM is the fifth in the north-east since mid-September.
And police say they are “keeping an open mind” as to whether the incidents are related.
Duffus postmaster Richard Ringrose said: “It all happened so quickly it must have been a professional job.
“The CCTV cameras showed two masked men in the store, but they only point inside so we don’t know if there were more of them outside.
“We also don’t know what type of vehicle they were using, but on the film you see its reverse lights shining into the store and then hear the impact.
“The only thing they’ve taken is the ATM – they knew what they were after.
“I won’t say exactly how much was inside it. Happily, though, it wasn’t enough to make it worthwhile for them.”
The break-in occurred at 2.30am and neighbours reported hearing a loud crash – but the thieves had gone before anyone had time to intervene.
Mr Ringrose, who has run the post office for the past 12 years, said: “If there’s anybody who can help the police in any way, I’m making a heartfelt plea asking them to do so.
“This break-in has left everyone in the village a bit shaken.
“At the same time, the community has really rallied round. So many people have called in this afternoon to offer their help.
“I want to thank everybody in the village for all the support they’ve shown.”
The impact from the vehicle shattered the store’s window and left glass scattered in the store and on the pavement outside.
A police forensic team was at the crime scene for much of the day yesterday.
Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson said: “We can confirm that an ATM was stolen following the break-in.
“There is no suggestion to say who was involved in this and whether it is linked to previous incidents. However, we will be keeping an open mind.”
An attempt was made to steal an ATM at the Inverurie branch of the Halifax branch of the Bank of Scotland on September 15.
The following day, the Clydesdale Bank in Oldmeldrum Square, Aberdeen, was targeted. The thieves fled empty-handed on both occasions.
However, on September 18, an ATM was stolen from the Royal Bank of Scotland in the village of New Deer in Buchan.
And the day after that a machine was taken from the Scotmid store in Bieldside, Aberdeen.
Police are still hunting the thieves responsible and last week released a picture of the dark Audi saloon they believe was used by a masked gang that carried out the string of cash-machine raids.