THE owner of a service station devastated by a ram raid has attacked the "pathetic" criminals who carried out the burglary – and got away with nothing.

THE owner of a service station devastated by a ram raid has attacked the "pathetic" criminals who carried out the burglary - and got away with nothing.

Two men used a stolen Mitsubishi Shogun to smash through the front of Darsham Service Station in the early hours of yesterday morning, causing more than £5,000 damage.

The crooks then used the vehicle to rip out the store's cash machine with a strap, before fleeing the scene in a silver Subaru-type vehicle.

But the pair, who were caught on CCTV footage, got away with nothing - because the cash machine was empty.

Owner Chris Woodruff said the ram raiders reversed the Shogun through the middle section of the store, which opened in December 2002.

He said: "They were in and out in 26 seconds. They obviously knew what they were doing because they were running around in dark clothing and balaclavas or hats.

"They got nothing because the cash machine was empty - they've done a lot of damage, upwards of £5,000, and they've got away with nothing.

"They've wasted my time and police time for nothing. There isn't a polite word to give to them. I'm not best pleased."

Mr Woodruff said the raid comes as an especially bitter blow because the store underwent a £100,000 renovation last October and November.

"Now I'm facing a situation where we are having to go through all the stock and things that have been damaged - I'm gutted," he said.

But Mr Woodruff added: "We opened straight away. We've got a large enough store to be able to divert customers to one end of the store rather than the other.

"We've been selling things from the back storeroom as well. I'm not sitting down for anybody.

"If they want to do this then fine, but I've got more to worry about than the pathetic actions of a few people."

The raid happened shortly after 3am yesterday morning. The green Mitsubishi Shogun used in the burglary had been stolen from School Field in Glemsford, near Sudbury, sometime after 11pm on June 22.

The empty cash machine was later found beside a road in Framsden, near Stowmarket.

It was the latest in a series of ram raids in the region. Last week, there were three in one night in Weeley, Dedham and Claydon.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen the Mitsubishi in the latest raid - registration H153 DBJ - or the silver car in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Anyone with information about the raid should call Leiston CID on 01986 835300.