Police say an abandoned 4×4 could be the key to tracing the “smash and grab” raiders who tried to steal a cash machine from a north-east petrol station at the weekend.
The would-be thieves smashed their way into the Aboyne Service Station in the early hours of Sunday morning, and attempted to steal a freestanding Link dispenser.
They dragged the machine onto the forecourt then tried to load it onto a stolen navy Land Rover Defender.
But the bungling crooks only managed to get it halfway into the car before abandoning the heist and making off.
Last night, the detective inspector leading the investigation confirmed the vehicle was stolen from a property in nearby Dinnet on Saturday.
Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson, Aberdeenshire and Moray CID, said this could be the key to tracking down the perpetrators.
He added: “This gives us the opportunity to find out what happened beforehand – we’ve got a link to from where the vehicle has been stolen from.
“We also suspect there was another vehicle used as a getaway car – we’re not ruling out that it was stolen as well.”
The incident was the latest in a string of ATM raids in the north-east in recent months.
Since January, there have been five ATM raids across the north-east, including Sunday’s failed attempt.
Most recently, in August, raiders stole more than £10,000 after smashing a cash machine at the Co-op in Kingswells.
DI Stevenson said it was too early to say whether this crime is connected to previous thefts.
He said: “It’s still relatively early – we have a team of officers still in the area conducting doorstep inquiries, and also tracking down any CCTV or security footage which may have captured the incident.
“I’m aware of other crimes in the area and across Scotland and we’ve got to keep them in mind. There’s nothing to suggest they are connected at this stage however.”
DI Stevenson is also appealing for any business or residents nearby who have CCTV to come forward, as they may have captured the suspects arriving or leaving the scene.
Anyone with information which could help officers should contact 101.