Cash machine raiders have struck again in the north-east – and left residents of a quiet suburb in shock.
A gang destroyed the ATM at the Co-op store in Kingswells and ripped open the shop’s shutters before fleeing.
It was the latest in a string of thefts and attempted thefts from cash machines in the region.
Last night, police said they were still trying to establish what was stolen in the incident in the early hours of yesterday morning.
And officers said they were keeping an “open mind” about possible links to similar raids in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
In June a gang escaped with £50,000 after blowing up an ATM at the Tesco supermarket at Newtonhill.
Thieves stole nearly £1,000 from a cash machine at a Nisa convenience store in Cuminestown in March..
And in January two ATMs were torn from the wall of the Morrisons store in Banchory and £10,000 was taken.
And last year there were raids on machines at New Deer, Oldmeldrum, Inverurie, Ellon, Stonehaven and Aberdeen over a two-month spree.
The screen of the ATM at the Kingswells Co-op was destroyed and the casing around it shattered in yesterday’s raid, which happened around 1am.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Dowall, who is leading the investigation, said: “We were notified by members of the public and simultaneously by an alarm activation at the shop that there was something ongoing.
“Police officers attended at the scene and were faced with the damage in front of the cash machine.
“Inquiries are very much at an early stage just now and we’re still trying to establish what, if anything, is missing from the shop or cash machine.”
Yesterday Kingswells business owners and residents said they were “shocked” by the raid.
Trevor Gordon, who owns Cafe Amore and has lived in the area for 45 years, said: “The first I knew about it was when I went to take the dogs out first thing this morning.
“I was really shocked to see it. I’ve never heard of anything like this happening around here.”
Daniel Imlach, 26, who works at Snappy Pizza in Kingswells, said: “The place is a ghost town at night. It’s such a quiet place that that’s probably why they went here.”
Jim Reaper, 75, said: “I was just coming down to get my paper when I saw all the police about.
“I’ve not heard of anything like this here before.
“It’s a really busy shop, the nearest place outside here is in Westhill.”
Kingswells, Sheddocksley and Summerhill councillor David Cameron said it was “disturbing” that the raid happened in the quiet suburb.
He said: “It’s very disappointing especially in Kingswells, that has such a low crime rate.
“It may just be speculation at the moment but this raid seems similar to previous ones across the north-east and it will be disturbing for people to know that this has happened in their community.
“I think that the fact that this seems like a professional job rather than someone just trying their luck shows that there isn’t a crime wave about to hit Kingswells.”
A spokesman for the Co-op declined to comment.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact them on 101.