Fruit machine robbery spate in Cambridgeshire

IMAGES of three men who may have information about a series of thefts from service station fruit machines have been released by Cambridgeshire Police.

IMAGES of three men who may have information about a series of thefts from service station fruit machines have been released by Cambridgeshire Police.

Thousands of pounds have been stolen from fruit machines at services on the A1 and M11 through Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex over the past two months.

Shortly after midnight on October 24, about �900 was stolen in pound coins from nine machines at the Xtra services in Boxworth, Cambridge.

Two hours later thieves struck at Xtra services in Haddon, near Peterborough, helping themselves to �700 from nine machines.

It was the second time the Haddon service station had been targetted. On October 31 five machines were raided and �700 stolen.

Pc Jonathan Marshall, investigating, said: “There have been a number of cases spanning Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. The offenders pretend to use the fruit machines, then break into them and steal the cash.

“We would like to speak to the three men pictured on CCTV as we believe they may have vital information to assist the investigation.

“One of the men pictured has a distinctive tattoo across his neck, I would appeal to anyone who recognises the men to contact police.”

Anyone with any information should call PC Marshall on 0345 456 456 4 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.