DRAMATIC images capture how two Northwich men brazenly rammed a stolen digger into an ATM in Weaverham.
Robert Lowe, 30, of Wessex Drive, and Tristan Tighe, 22, of Dunham Road, were sentenced to five years each for conspiracy to steal between September 1, 2019 and January 10, 2020.
The pair were found guilty of the offence following a week-long trial at Chester Crown Court, which heard how they targeted ATM using stolen diggers and other vehicles adapted to transport the stolen machines.
Their rampage began on October 9, 2019 when they removed a cash machine at McColl’s, London Road, Holmes Chapel, and stole a large amount of cash.
The pair also conducted two failed attacks at cash machines outside the Tesco superstore on Chester Road, Helsby, on September 2, 2019, and Tesco Express, on Northwich Road, Weaverham, on January 10, 2020.
They left empty handed on both occasions but caused extensive damage to the stores.
The suspects were identified and arrested as part of a complex investigation conducted by DC Kusiar, DS Scott Graves, PC Matt Uren and Analyst Jennie Hull which included evidence obtained from forensics linking the men to the scenes, stolen diggers and several of the adapted vehicles.
Officers also recovered CCTV footage of Lowe walking away from an adapted transit van with a large hole cut in the roof which he dumped in Lower Whitley, near Northwich, on January 10, following the failed attack in Weaverham.
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