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>Physical Security – Thieves Dig 100ft Tunnel to Reach Cash Machine

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Thieves spent “months” digging an 100 foot long tunnel beneath a car park and video shop in an elaborate robbery on a cash machine but got away with just a few thousand pounds.
Detectives believe the gang may have spent up to six months digging the passageway, which extended from a railway embankment, under a car park and beneath a shop where the cash machine was located.
The tunnel, which was around 100 feet in length and 4 feet tall, had been fitted with lighting and roof supports.

In a heist similar to that seen in films such as the Bank Job, where thieves tunnel beneath a bank to get to a vault, the gang had to cut through more than 15 inches of concrete to reach the cash machine.
Thieves dug a 100ft tunnel under a building to get at the cash machine
 at Blockbuster in Fallowfield Shopping Precinct in Manchester


Police believe the theft occurred some time between 5.30pm on Monday January 2 and Tuesday January 3 at the Blockbuster in Fallowfield shopping precinct in Levenshulme, Manchester. They refused to reveal how much money had been taken, but said the gang only got away with “limited funds”. The cash machine can hold up to £20,000 but it is believed the gang got away with just £6,000.

It comes four years after an identical lot was foiled at the same location after workmen discovered a 40ft tunnel running from the railway embankment towards the Blockbuster shop. The original tunnel was filled in with concrete to prevent it being used again.

Detective Sergeant Ian Shore, from Longsight CID, said: ”In all my years of service, I have never seen anything quite as elaborate as this. These people had obviously spent a long time plotting this crime and I doubt they would have been able to keep their plans secret for all that time, without telling others about their scheme. ‘They must also have spent a lot of time in the area over the past few months, which people may have noticed. ‘The financial detriment to the victim could have been a lot worse, and the offenders did not get away with as much money as I believe they may have originally hoped. The machine had limited funds available.”

The tunnel was dug directly underneath the cash machine, where the offenders then used machinery to cut through the concrete above to steal money from the ATM. The thieves then made their getaway back down the tunnel.

DS Shore added: “I would ask that anyone who may have noticed anything unusual around this Blockbuster store, or who may have seen or heard anything they think might help us with our investigation, to get in touch.”
Original Source: The Telegraph

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4245  or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

How’s that for a return on investment!
 All for an estimated £6k! Sounds like a lot of
work for not much money!
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