Brazen gang use a DIGGER to demolish a Nisa store
Brazen robbers were filmed ram-raiding a supermarket using a stolen digger before escaping the scene with a cash machine.
Dramatic CCTV footage released by Derbyshire Police today shows the thieves arriving at the Nisa store in Hatton, Derbyshire, in a car, a 4x4 towing a trailer, and a digger.
The 3.06 minute video shows the large specialist vehicle, which was stolen from Tutbury, Staffordshire, parking outside the supermarket at approximately 2.30am on August 3.
The red digger can be seen moving back a few metres - before driving full-pelt into the front of the shop to smash their way inside.
Two men, both dressed in black, then clear the way for the specialist vehicle to rip out a cash machine, which is then loaded on to the back of a trailer.
Officers were immediately sent to the scene, but were halted when one thief threw a metal bar at them whilst driving off leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The 4x4, trailer and cash machine were found abandoned in Markfield, Leicestershire a few days later.
The digger has been left at the scene of the smash-and-grab robbery.
A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said: 'Officers were sent to the scene immediately and one thief threw a metal bar at officers before the vehicles drove off.
'We began searching for the gang, alerting neighbouring forces to the theft, but the 4x4 was not found.
'Staffordshire Police saw the other car in Alrewas but it made off. We believe four men were involved in the crime.'
The digger drove full-throttle at the Nisa store front in Hatton, Derbyshire
The specialist vehicle broke a large hole in the building, making space for the thieves to enter