A PROBE has been launched after a busy service station was looted by masked thieves.

Police are hunting for three people in connection with the raid at Bothwell services in the early hours of Monday September 4.

The trio broke in to the Roadchef on the M74 southbound at Fallside Road between 2.35am and 3.15am, forced open the ATM machine and made off with a five figure sum of cash.

They men are all described as white males, with the first wearing a light baseball cap, long sleeved top, dark trousers and black trainers.

A second man was wearing a light coloured tammy hat, black gloves, a light coloured hoodie with his face covered with a scarf.

The third suspect also had his face covered and was wearing a light coloured top and tracksuit bottoms and light Nike trainers.

Officers have also appeared to the drivers of any cars at the services at the time to review their dashcam footage and get in touch, as well as anyone who heard loud noises in the area at the time.

Another incident where an ATM was pinched from a shop in Innerleithen, in the borders, is also being investigated by police however both incidents are not considered to be linked.

Detective Inspector Colin Campbell at Cambuslang Police Office said: “Although the Services were closed at the time of the break-in, there may have been a number of vehicles parked within the car park or utilising the filling station and I appeal to those drivers to review their dashcam footage and contact police if they have any information.

“The suspects are believed to have been in the premises for a considerable length of time and would have made a lot of noise forcing open the cash line machine therefore I’d like to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity and make have heard extensive noise or saw the suspects hanging around the area either prior to the break-in taking place or making off afterwards.”

Anyone with information can contact Cambuslang police on 101, using reference 0426/September 4 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be passed on anonymously.