Ram raiders have smashed into the side of a Co-op store in Long Melford near Sudbury ripping a cash machine out of the wall.

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Police officers were called to the shop in Halls Street at around 1.54am in the early hours of this morning, Sunday, November 12.

A police spokesman said thieves had crashed a JCB forklift into the store before making off with a cash machine.

It was then loaded into the back of a stolen vehicle and driven away.

A police spokesman added officers had located the stolen cash machine and the vehicle used to ram the store.

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“Four persons left the scene in two stolen vehicles.

“One of these was stolen from the Woodhall Business Park, Sudbury on Saturday, November 11, and the other stolen from a location in Hertfordshire the same day.

“Police have located and recovered the digger and ATM from the Ridgewell area.”

Parish and district councillor John Nunn said: “The section of the building containing the ATM has been completely ripped out by the JCB.

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“It is absolutely disgusting this has happened.

“It has caused a lot of damage to the Co-op, a building that has just been renovated at great expense.

“We are lucky to have such a building in the village.

“This is obviously a planned operation due to the fact the vehicles have come from far and wide.

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“I will be in talks with police and the East of England Co-op to discuss having measures put in front of the cash machine, such as iron bollards, to stop this from happening in the future.”

A spokesperson for the East of England Co-op said: “The store will be closed whilst Suffolk Police continue their investigations and we make repairs to the building.

“We hope to be able to open as normal on Monday morning.

“We will be looking at what measures can be taken to prevent an incident like this happening again.”

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

If you witnessed the incident or have any information that could assist officers in their investigation call Suffolk police on 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or fill in the crime fighting charity’s online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe scene of the ram raid at the Co-oP Village Shop in Hall Street, Long Melford Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Thieves have ram raided the East of England Co-op store in Long Melford, ripping a cash machine out of the wall. Picture: CONTRIBUTEDThieves have ram raided the East of England Co-op store in Long Melford, ripping a cash machine out of the wall. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)