THIEVES drove a vehicle through the glass doors of Langholm’s Co-operative Store in the early hours last Friday.
Extensive damage was done to the superstore after an attempt was made to steal the cash machine which is on the outside the building.
Members of the public alerted the police after hearing screeching tyres and loud bangs just after midnight.
Officers are investigating the attack, the second to hit the store. In the previous incident 10 years ago thieves made off with about £30,000 from the cash machine.
Officers discovered the front of the shop was smashed in and an attempt had been made to remove the cash machine.
Detective Inspector William McDicken said: “This has been a determined attempt to breach the shop’s security using a vehicle to smash through the front doors.
“We’re carrying out extensive enquiries in the town to try to identify any vehicles which may have been used in this crime.
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“We’re looking for what is probably a badly-damaged 4×4 vehicle and a second vehicle appears to have been at the scene at the time of the crime.
“I am thankful to those people who called us at the time. I would ask anyone to get in in touch if they saw any suspicious vehicles or people around the Co-op especially after the store closed at 10pm on Thursday or in the days leading up to this crime.
“I would particularly appeal to anyone who may have private CCTV or a dashcam in their vehicle to review it for any vehicles moving about the town, either late on Thursday or early on Friday.”
Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, should ring 101, quoting the reference number 0018 5/7.
Anyone who wants to give information anonymously can ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Gary Collins, store manager, told the E&L Advertiser on Friday morning: “All I know is they tried to get into the cash machine but I don’t know yet whether they got anything.
“I was here 10 years ago when it was raided and at the Gretna store. Moffat has been done twice, too.
“This one looks like they tried it and failed so they smashed through the doors using a car. The car isn’t there now but there is a wing mirror and other debris.”
Gary was called out after midnight but was not allowed into the store to switch off the alarm until the morning.
He added: “They know the police can’t get here for 20 minutes unless they happen to be close by. The thieves have a head start.
The store reopened on Saturday morning.
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