Thieves used a forklift to steal two cash machines from a Tesco supermarket in Brandon overnight.

The incident happened at the store in London Road between 1.25am and 1.30am, Suffolk police said.

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A black Audi A4, a JCB forklift and a white Ford Transit flatbed van entered the car park in convoy and approached the cash machines at the front of the store.

Police are searching for five male suspects believed to have been in these vehicles.

The JCB was then used to smash into the front of the building and remove the cash machines, placing them onto the back of the flatbed vehicle.

The Audi and the Ford then drove off in the direction of Lakenheath, leaving the JCB in the car park.

Ministry of Defence police officer in a marked car then spotted the vehicles on the A1065, at which point the thieves turned right into Wangford Road where the Ford blocked the junction.

The driver of that vehicle and the Audi then made off.

A police helicopter and dog units searched the area, with the cash machines being recovered from the abandoned Ford Transit.

The JCB was later found to have been stolen from a farm in Watton, Norfolk, while the Ford Transit was stolen from a unit at the Foster Business Park in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

A police cordon was put in place outside the Tesco store after the incident, which destroyed part of the front of the supermarket.

Tesco confirmed the store was closed on Monday and will reopen in due course.

A spokesman for the supermarket said: "We are helping the police with their investigation and are sorry for any inconvenience caused."

West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock arrived at the scene of the ram raid late on Monday morning.

He said on Twitter: "Shocked to see the extent of the damage in Brandon this morning after thieves stole a cash machine overnight.

"Thank you to Suffolk police for your swift response."

Anyone with information related to the theft is urged to contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number 4688/22.

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