CASH machines have been targeted by gangs in a spate of raids across the district in the past three months.

Police are linking two incidents, in St Neots and Brampton, and keeping an open mind as to whether they are connected to a further six ram raids across Huntingdonshire and into the Cambridge area.

The latest raid, on the HSBC bank in St Neots, took place in the early hours of Monday. Thieves used a dark grey BMW to ram their way into the High Street premises at 4.10am.

Once inside they tried to break into an ATM but were unable to gain access to the cash. They then made off in the BMW and a Vauxhall Corsa.

The previous night, offenders smashed a glass door to gain access to the cash machine in Frosts Garden Centre, in Buckden Road, Brampton. The would-be thieves struck some time between 5.30pm on Sunday and 7.55am on Monday.

They tried to break into a cash machine but fled when they realised it was empty.

A grey saloon car and a Volkswagen Golf were spotted in the car park at the time of the incident.

Det Insp Jon McAdam said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area and saw anything suspicious or where the vehicles went afterwards.

“We would urge shopkeepers and staff to be vigilant, especially if they notice people paying particular attention to ATM machines.

“We are also keen for security staff at stores with cash points to alert us as soon as an alarm is activated so we can get to the scene as quickly as possible.

“Finally, if possible, we would advise stores to move ATMs away from main doors and windows to make them less accessible for any thieves.

“We are keen for people to report any suspicious activity by calling 999.”

INFORMATION: Anyone with information on any of the raids should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

MAP POINTS/TIMELINE

1: Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge at 11.45pm on March 9. Men in white suits and black balaclavas used a Mitsubishi Shogun to haul the ATM out of the treatment centre.

2: Costcutter, Little Paxton at 11.20pm on April 9. Offenders wearing dark clothing and balaclavas stole a Land Rover from Newmarket before using it to ram their way into the Parkway shop. They loaded the ATM into another vehicle, believed to be a green Volvo estate.

3: Nisa, Papworth at 12.50am on May 18. Thieves stole a Land Rover Discovery in Cambridge before crashing it into the store, in Ermine Street. They loaded the ATM into another vehicle, believed to be a green Subaru Forrester.

4: Imperial War Museum, Duxford at 1.40am on May 30. Offenders used a stolen red Land Rover to ram their way into the Visitor Centre. They attempted to remove an ATM before making off in another vehicle, believed to be an Alfa Romeo.

5: Hemingford Service Station, St Ives at 11.40pm on June 14. Thieves stole cigarettes after smashing their way into the petrol station store.

6: Waitrose, Cambridge at 2am on June 15. Thieves stole a JCB from a nearby building site and used it to remove the supermarket’s ATM.

7: Frosts Garden Centre, Brampton between 5.30pm and 7.55am on June 17/18. Thieves smashed a glass door to access the ATM.

8: HSBC, St Neots at 4.10am on June 18. A gang use a BMW to smash their way into the bank but fail to get away with any money.