BURGLARS who ram-raided a village shop left empty-handed after the stolen cash machine fell off the back of their pick-up truck as they made their escape.

The Village Store and Post Office in Scorton, owned by Tony and Fiona Simms for the last nine years, was raided just after 1am this morning (Thursday 25) by burglars who attempted to steal the free standing cash machine located inside the store.

Mr Simms said: “There would have been a minimal amount of cash in there, we fill it up ourselves from the business and it usually runs out by the end of the day.”

Mr Simms spent the morning trading from the back of a van, but was back inside the shop by this afternoon.

Mrs Simms said: “I felt really shocked this morning but anger is starting to set in now – but at least they didn’t actually get away with anything.”

He added: “They won’t kick us down.”

It is believed the thieves also attempted to stop police accessing the village by placing a bollard in the road near the bridge at the east end of the village.

A spokesman from North Yorkshire Police said: “Thieves used a black Nissan Navara to break into the village’s Post Office before stealing the cash machine.

“The Nissan was stolen from Patrick Brompton a short time earlier and has not yet been located, but the cash machine was recovered nearby a few minutes after the burglary.”

Shortly before the burglary thieves made an unsuccessful attempt to steal a pick-up from a property in Catterick Garrison.

Officers believe the thieves may be connected to a Ford Transit flatbed truck, with yellow markings on the sides, which has been seen in the area recently.

Detective Inspector Darrin Knight, of Northallerton CID, said: “As it possible that the thieves who stole the Nissan also tried to steal the car in Catterick, I need to speak to anyone who believes that an attempt was made to steal their vehicle.”

Anyone with information about any of the vehicles can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111 quoting reference number 12120179783.