POLICE are on the hunt for a gang of thugs who who used a digger to remove an ATM from a wall in South Lanarkshire.

Police were called around 4.10am on October 12 after four people wearing balaclavas used a Manitou digger to forcibly remove an ATM from the wall of Bobby’s Newsagents in Forth's Main Street, causing extensive damage to the building.

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The suspects then made off in a silver Kia Sorrento, which had been modified to fit the ATM, which is believed to have contained a five figure sum of cash.

The car was later recovered by police in the Carnwath area.

Detective Sergeant Erin Renwick from Wishaw CID said: “We are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Main Street, Forth, in the early hours of Friday morning and may have seen or heard anything at all suspicious to please get in touch.

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“We would also ask any motorists with dashcams who were travelling between the Forth and Carnwath areas to check in case they have captured any footage which could be of significance to the investigation. "The silver Kia Sorrenta was very obviously modified and we would appeal to anyone who noticed this vehicle to get in touch.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Wishaw CID via 101, quoting incident number 0397. "Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.”