A CRIME gang who tried to cut their way into a cash machine with an angle grinder and attempted to burgle a store have been jailed.

Eight men were jailed yesterday for a string of crimes across the North West, including Bolton.

Masked men were captured on CCTV trying to steal from an ATM in Eagley Brook Way at The Valley in the early hours of Sunday, January 15.

Fingerprints belonging to Adam Norman, aged 24, of Offerton Lane, Stockport, were found in an abandoned car near to the scene.

A number of angle grinders were found during a search of Norman’s home.

Other gang members including Owen Quinn, aged 22, of Deacons Close, Stockport, Shane Wilson, aged 23, of Eynford Avenue, Brinnington, and Matthew Wilson, aged, 21, of Dawlish Avenue, Brinnington, were linked to an attempted burglary at Morrisons in Blackhorse Street, Bolton, in February.

Quinn and both Shane and Matthew Wilson, who were under police surveillance, were stopped in a Ford Fiesta a short time after the break-in attempt.

Norman was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to commit commercial burglary.

Quinn admitted burglary, conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Shane Wilson was jailed for to two-and-a-half years, while Matthew Wilson, was jailed for three years. Both admitted conspiracy to commit commercial burglary.

The gangs carried out burglaries and robberies using stolen vehicles across Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Cheshire and North Wales.

In most cases cash machines and stores selling cigarettes were targeted.

Thirty-two crimes were linked to the gang.

Chief Supt Chris Sykes said: “This Brinnington crime gang trawled the North West looking for targets and planned their crimes meticulously.

“Organised crime gangs such as this don’t stay within geographical boundaries and we have once again proven that we will pursue them wherever they go — be it Greater Manchester, North Wales or elsewhere — in order to ensure justice is done and the most prolific of offenders brought to justice.”

l Watch the video of the criminals trying to cut their way into the cash machine on The Bolton News website.