
This is the trail of destruction left behind by ram raiders who targeted a post office in a sleepy Essex village.
Thieves tore the cash machine out of the wall of the building at Maldon Road, Great Totham just before 4am on Friday (July 1), leaving only two metal supports remaining while the inside was left open to the elements.
Terry Jenkins, who rents out the building housing the Maldon Road post office, said: "On December 30 burglars had gone in with a Land Rover and crashed through the window to get the cash machine. It's almost been six months to the day.
"So when it got repaired, we didn't put a window back in, we put in a wall. Now there's more damage than last time because it's taken the side wall too.
"They dragged the safe out of the shop and pulled it across the junction on the road again.
"It looks from the skid marks on the road it took them two goes to do it. But it only took one minute and 38 seconds according to the CCTV- you could see them with their hoods up- so by the time anyone made a phone call they'd gone.
"The road was covered in debris and a woman across the field got woken up by it and saw the commotion."
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When the cash machine is full, it can hold £32,000, but it is not yet known exactly how much money was in the ATM.
Screeching wheels on tarmac woke neighbours in the next road along, who caught the thieves making their escape.
Jan Hollett, of Staples Heath, said: "I heard the squeal [of the] wheels on the car and that's what woke me up, and then a very large crunch.
"I thought someone had banged into my next door neighbour's cars, that's how loud it was.
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"I got up and saw two vehicles shoot up the road after a third bang. Apparently that third bang was them getting into the ATM machine.
"I thought oh my goodness, they've done it again, so I walked down there with my dog. The road was covered in mess."
Jan was woken at precisely 3.55am and police were called shortly after 4am to the scene of the crime.
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Thieves are believed to have used a vehicle to pull the cash machine out from inside the shop, causing significant damage to the building.
"Detectives would ask members of the public to contact them if they have any information about the incident or if anyone finds the remains of the cash machine discarded."
Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.