CCTV shows thieves ram-raiding Victorian service station

Brazen thieves have used a front-end loader to demolish the side wall of a service station in Whittlesea, north of Melbourne, only to steal the ATM inside.

At about 3.30am two offenders smashed into the side of the United service station on Plenty Road.

After four attempts they managed to knock the wall down, before invading the store and securing the ATM.

The machine was then loaded onto a getaway vehicle, believed to be a white utility. The offenders were last seen heading towards the town of Wallan.

The front-end loader was stolen from a property just metres away.

Owner Len Lord was astonished to discover the neighbouring service station a scene of destruction.

“We flew out of bed, came over here to see what happened now. We're just in total shock,” he said.

Mr Lord believes the thieves were organised and may have scoped out the property days beforehand.

He believes those responsible had operational knowledge of the front-end loader.

Later that morning police were led to a construction site about two kilometres away, where part of the ATM was recovered. While the cash box was missing, forensic police are checking the recovered ATM shell for evidence.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is advised to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.