A smash-and-grab gang dramatically crashed two stolen vehicles into the front of a Post Office and tore the cash machine from the shop in a dead-of-night raid.
The raiders are believed to have escaped with a “substantial” amount of money in the attack at around 1am yesterday.
The building, meanwhile, may have been left in a dangerous condition structurally, while Post Office Ltd is now helping the postmaster in the aftermath of the raid which it described as a “very difficult and challenging time”.
Detectives investigating the raid believe that two vehicles, a silver Mitsubishi Shogun and a blue Transit-type van, were used to smash into the window of the Barkerend Post Office, in Barkerend Road, Bradford.
It comes just days after an unrelated incident in which a gang of robbers dressed in women’s burkhas attacked a Post Office in Manningham, putting the postmaster in hospital.
In the latest incident, police are hunting four suspects, all dressed in dark clothing, who are thought to have entered the premises and removed the ATM cash machine.
The Post Office is in touch with the sub-postmaster to offer support, and customers are being directed to other post offices while investigations are being carried out into whether any structural damage was caused to the Barkerend building in the raid.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the raid and are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Gary Birch, of Bradford South CID, on (01274) 376706, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A Post Office Ltd spokesman said: “Police are investigating an incident at Barkerend Road Post Office that occurred in the early hours.
“In what are obviously very distressing circumstances we always give our full support to sub-postmasters to help them through very difficult and challenging times, and this case has been no exception. We have been in touch with him regarding the incident and continue to be so.”
The spokesman added: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers and would suggest that, in the meantime, they use Peel Park Post Office, on Airedale Road, Killinghall Road Post Office, on Killinghall Road, Darley Street Post Office, on Darley Street, or any branch of their choice.”
Peter Finlay, postmaster at Menston post office, and regional secretary of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, said ATMs in any premises were susceptible to determined thieves.
But he said the Post Office provided security and safety advice and he urged postmasters to follow their procedures.
Mr Finlay added: “We are not going to stop all offences, because determined robbers will find a way, no matter what you do, but the post office provides us with a degree of security to the best of its ability, “The main worry and concern for people in the Barkerend area is that they may not have any postal services for a period of time while the premises may have structural dangers.
“It has a larger impact for the whole community beyond the inconvenience to the sub-postmaster and staff.”