Police are appealing for information after the attempted theft of a cash machine in Carnforth.

Between 12.30am and 1am last Friday morning (21st October) police received reports that four men had attempted to break into the ATM at the Co-op store on Market Street.

On arrival, police saw that the men had smashed the wall surrounding the cash machine at the store with what is thought to be a sledgehammer and a crow bar. It would appear that they were disturbed by the officers arriving and ran from the scene and police are appealing for information to try and trace them.

“Early indications are that there were four men involved in this attempted theft,” says Detective Superintendent Mark Stephens, “and they left two vehicles behind at the scene which were a blue Ford Transit Van and a green Ford Focus which, it would appear they had used to conceal their activity at the cash machine.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have any information at all about either the offenders or perhaps about the vehicles to come forward.

“I would also be keen to speak with anyone who spotted any suspicious behaviour in and around the Co-Op and Market Street areas in the hours or even days running up to the incident.”

• Anyone with any information can contact Lancaster CID on 01524 596712 or on 08451 25 35 45. Alternatively, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.