THIEVES have stolen a cash machine from a post office in a smash-and-grab ram raid.

The criminals smashed through the front of Barnards Green Post Office, in Court Road, Malvern, with a JCB at around 3.20am today.

They then used a 4x4 and a piece of rope to pull the ATM out of the building.

The raid reportedly took less than 10 minutes and also involved a black Mitsubishi L200, a silver Ford Ranger pickup and a blue Audi estate.

West Mercia Police is investigating possible links between the incident and other recent thefts in Bromyard and Kempsey.

Jenny Cain, the owner of Barnards Green Post Office, said: “Devastated doesn’t even cover it.

“It’s my private business and they have ripped the front out of my business. I can’t stop shaking.

“It doesn’t just affect me, it’s the whole community. Luckily no one was hurt.”

Ms Cain said she could not say how much the thieves got away with for security reasons.

The ATM was later found abandoned at Blackmore Industrial Park, near Malvern.

A 50-year-old woman who lives near the post office said she was awoken by the sound of the JCB smashing into the shop.

“I sleep with the window open and woke up to a horrendous noise,” she said.

“I looked out and there was a digger going backwards and forwards about four times.

“The last time it wouldn’t go. It was broken that’s why it’s still in the road.

“We have been awake half the night watching what has gone on.”

The woman and her partner said they saw a digger, a 4x4 and two other vehicles at the scene, all with their lights on.

“The 4x4 went behind the digger to try and rammed it once more,” the woman added.

“There was a man’s voice shouting. I reckon there was four men. At least four due to the amount of vehicles.”

She said she rang the police to let them know about the raid but added that she was scared the thieves might spot her watching through the window.

“There’s no cash machine for older people down here now,” she said.

“That was the last serving cash point. Although there’s one more by the travel agents.”

Her 65-year-old partner also watched the raid unfold and thought that the JCB’s clutch had been broken in the raid.

“There was something wrong with it,” he said.

“We have been trying to figure out where the digger came from.”

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: "It looks like criminal gangs are targeting our area and think they can get away with this appalling crime.

"I have urged our Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion to ensure that the right resources are deployed to catch these violent criminals. 

"I was in the Barnards Green Post Office recently and know what a valuable resource the shop, the post office and the cashpoint are for the community.

"Jenny Cain works so hard to serve local residents at her successful business. I hope that the police can catch these crooks quickly."

Kevin Purcell, West Mercia Police Superintendent for South Worcestershire, said: "A thorough investigation is underway and officers are undertaking comprehensive enquiries in the Barnards Green area as well the areas where the vehicles were stolen.

“Our investigation is including possible links with similar recent thefts in Bromyard and Kempsey.

“We have put additional patrols in place across the area, which we hope will offer some reassurance to local residents.”

Supt Purcell encouraged anyone who saw anything unusual in the area to speak with the police.

“I would also ask people who live, or were driving through the area overnight, to get in touch if they saw any of the vehicles listed above, either being driven or parked up somewhere,” he added.

Lucy Hodgson, who is county councillor for the area, said: “That post office is the heart of Barnards Green and for someone to rip out that heart is tragic.

“I was there yesterday. I popped in to see her [Jenny]. We were there at 5pm sitting on the bench.

“Jenny does such a wonderful job in that post office. She’s worked so hard to build up that business.

“I’m very sorry for what has happened to a hard working local business. I hope the police can catch them quickly.”

The JCB was stolen from the Hanley Swan area, the black Mitsubishi 4x4 was taken from the Bromyard area and the Ford Ranger was from the Gloucester area.

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting incident number 0051s of Thursday, April 13.