FOUR men have been arrested by police following an investigation into a series of 19 attacks on cash machines across England and Wales.

Three of the men, aged 27, 32 and 35, were detained in Moira, Leicestershire, following a pursuit by officers from Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

The fourth man, aged 32, was arrested at a property on Lescelles Street in St Helens after a warrant was executed.

The investigation began after the ATM at the Nisa Local store on Longshaw Street in Dallam was damaged and cash was stolen at around 2.40am on Good Friday, April 14.

Police on Longshaw Street following the incident

At the time, it was reported that an angle grinder and sledge hammers were used, and when police quickly arrived at the scene, the perpetrators rammed a transit van into their car.

Shortly prior to the four men being arrested, a burglary occurred at a Co-op store on Shortheath Road in Moira at 3.45am yesterday, Thursday.

The store had been broken into in an attempt to steal the cash machine inside, and after the attempt was unsuccessful, the suspects are alleged to have left the location in a black BMW that was stopped and recovered by police.

All of the men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and remain in police custody for questioning.

Damage to the store on Longshaw Street

DCI Ian Murray, from Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “The arrests are part of an investigation into approximately 19 attacks on cash machines that occurred between Saturday, March 12 and Thursday, July 7.

“Our investigation began after one of the cash machines was targeted on Longshaw Street in Warrington.

“The investigation remains ongoing but sends a clear message that we are relentless in our pursuit of catching individuals who we suspect of travelling to Cheshire, and to other parts of the country, for the purposes of committing serious and organised crime.”

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