Ram-raiders steal cash machine from Co-op store

A cash machine was stolen in a ram-raid on a Co-op store in Leicester, police have said.

Leicestershire Police said officers were called to the shop near the junction of London Road and Stoughton Road at about 03:30 BST on Thursday.

The force said it was reported that a Mitsubishi Shogun had been driven at the front of the store.

Officers said they found the cash machine inside, which contained an unknown quantity of cash, had been stolen.

Police said a group of men were reported to have left the area in a grey car.

The Misubishi was later found abandoned in nearby Elmsleigh Avenue.

Det Sgt Robert Smith said: "Our investigation is ongoing this morning and I'd like to speak to anyone who may have information that could help.

"While it happened in the early hours, the shop is on a main route in and out of the city and there may have been people in the area."

A Co-op spokesperson said: "There was an incident at our London Road store in the early hours of this morning where there was an attack on the community's ATM.

"The store is temporarily closed to allow police to investigate and for any necessary repairs to be carried out.

"We will reopen as soon as possible to serve the community and appeal for anyone who may have seen or heard anything to come forward to the police."

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