Dramatic video has emerged of a ram raid in Whittlesey on Saturday. Ram raiders demolished part of the Nationwide Building Society in Whittlesey. A JCB – believed to have been stolen from a local farm – was used in the raid.
Just a casual night in Whittlesey where a group of lads steel a JCB and decide to steal the @AskNationwide cash machine !! Absolutely crazy. All that damage for a few grand! #bankjob pic.twitter.com/4Oyblh74tJ
— Shaun Harley (@ShaunHarley06) October 28, 2023
The branch, the only remaining building society or bank in the town, is closed until further notice.
At around 1.45am police were called to reports that four suspects were at Nationwide, Eastgate, using a JCB digger and a white Ford Ranger pick-up truck to steal money from the cash machine.
Det Insp Shish Thind said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation and keen to speak to any witnesses who saw suspicious activity in the area in the early hours of this morning to get in touch, or if you were driving by and have captured dashcam footage please get in touch.”
Residents reacted furiously, many questioning why CCTV in the town centre was not able to alert police earlier to the ram raid.
“Maybe having a police station nearby might not have stopped this happening but not having one certainly didn't,” one resident posted to social media.
“Didn't somebody watching the CCTV around the town think it odd that a teleporter was being driven around the town early in the morning?”
Ram raiders attacked the Nationwide Building Society, Whittlesey, in the early hours of today
Another commented: “How was it even possible to steal the JBC from a building site in first place? Security?”
One other resident said: “We need police in Whittlesey all time this time of year”.
Det Insp Thind said: “Business burglaries are not a victimless crime – they have a huge impact on shop workers and the people that use their facilities in our communities.
"We’re urging people to report suspicious behaviour around premises with ATMs. ATM crimes could often be prevented if so-called “precursor” offences are reported to us. These can often seem minor and include theft of number plates, ropes, straps, and chains and cutting equipment.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police online www.cambs.police.uk quoting reference 35/80589/23 Those without internet access should call 101. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Residents reacted furiously, many questioning why CCTV in the town centre was not able to alert police earlier to the ram raid.
“Maybe having a police station nearby might not have stopped this happening but not having one certainly didn't,” one resident posted to social media.
“Didn't somebody watching the CCTV around the town think it odd that a teleporter was being driven around the town early in the morning?”
Another commented: “How was it even possible to steal the JBC from a building site in first place? Security?”
One other resident said: “We need police in Whittlesey all time this time of year”.
He described the ram raiders as “scum bags”.
A spokesperson for Nationwide said this week: “We are assisting the police with their enquiries following an incident at our Whittlesey branch at the weekend.
"Unfortunately, due to the extent of damage caused, the branch will remain closed for the foreseeable future and those branch colleagues will be working in other surrounding branches. Customers needing to use a branch can use the ones in Peterborough and Ramsey. Opening hours can be checked on our website.”
