THIEVES blasted their way into a convenience store cash machine and made off with thousands of pounds.

The gang used gas cannisters to blow up the ATM outside the Nisa shop in Market Street, Little Lever, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The blast caused £20,000 worth of damage to the inside of the store and destroyed £15,000 worth of stock. 

Part of the parade was cordoned off following the explosion at 1.10am as police forensic officers searched the area.

Shop owner Bhavesh Parekh said he was devastated by the incident. He said: “The thieves came in a silver or gold Toyota Yaris.

They used some sort of gas explosive to get through. They have blown that safe room to smithereens. Walls have gone and the ceiling has dropped.

“Then they prised the shutters open with mechanical tools or whatever they do. They didn’t steal the machine itself. The cash machine has got what we call the cassettes containing the notes and they have stolen the cassettes.”

The cash machine, which is independently maintained by ATM provider NoteMachine, was installed in 2012. It is not clear how much the raiders stole – but the machine contains £60,000 when it is full.

Mr Parekh said the force of the explosion to the outside wall of the store room blew wine bottles off shelves and beer bottles off refrigerated shelves, soaking and destroying stock nearby.

He said: “I would estimate around £20,000 of repairs now and the stock we have lost is worth about £15,000.

“I can’t believe it’s happened. It’s so stressful. The damage they have left is unbelievable.”

The Nisa store was taken over by Mr Parekh in 2010 and was for a brief time operating under the resurrected Kwik Save brand. 

It was named one of the top 100 local shops in the country in October, 2014 and Mr Parekh said the shop had never been targeted in this way before.

In October last year, thieves used a similar method to target a cash machine at the front of Bradshaw Post Office. Neighbours were woken up when a gang blasted the ATM off the wall and escaped with thousands in cash.
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information following the latest incident. A spokesman said: “Police were called to Market Street following reports that an ATM had been damaged. Officers afound the machine had sustained significant damage and a quantity of cash had been stolen.

“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 118 of 13/07/16, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”