Thieves used power tools and car in attempt to drag cash machine from Preston Co-op

Two men have been jailed following an attempt to steal a cash machine from a convenience store in Preston.
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Officers were called to reports of an ongoing break-in at the Co-op in Granton Walk, Ingol, just after 10.30pm on Saturday (July 11).

Nathan Green, 37, of Sale Road, Manchester and Joseph Pike, 30, of Tabley Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, both appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday (October 30).

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Green was sentenced to 45 months behind bars for burglary, with a further 15 months to run consecutively for dangerous driving.

Nathan Green (pictured left) and Joseph Pike (pictured right). (Credit: Lancashire Police)Nathan Green (pictured left) and Joseph Pike (pictured right). (Credit: Lancashire Police)
Nathan Green (pictured left) and Joseph Pike (pictured right). (Credit: Lancashire Police)

Pike was sentenced to 36 months behind bars for burglary.

DC Wendy Potter, of Preston CID, said: "Green and Pike are now facing long stretches behind bars after making attempts to steal a cash machine before leading officers on a high-speed pursuit into Greater Manchester.

"This type of crime – targeting businesses and attempting to steal large amounts of cash – is completely unacceptable and I hope the sentences handed down send a message that incidents such as these will not be tolerated in Lancashire.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to warn criminals that we will be launching ‘Operation Vault’ in the run-up to Christmas, with measures being put in place to prevent incidents such as cash in transit robberies. Our operation will include response and neighbourhood officers, as well as specialist teams such as firearms and road policing officers, with the aim of targeting, deterring and disrupting criminals who carry out this type of crime."

Officers were called to reports of an ongoing break-in at the Co-op in Granton Walk. (Credit: Google)Officers were called to reports of an ongoing break-in at the Co-op in Granton Walk. (Credit: Google)
Officers were called to reports of an ongoing break-in at the Co-op in Granton Walk. (Credit: Google)
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When officers attended the store on July 11 they found the offenders had used power tools to gain access to the shop.

The men then attached a Kia Sportage to the cash machine before attempting to pull it from the premises.

However, the Kia's bumper came off and the offenders were forced to flee empty-handed.

The Kia was abandoned nearby but officers were able to identify a second vehicle - a BMW - that was also being used by the group.

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A short time later it was located and pursued before eventually brought to a stop near Oldham.

Both the Kia and the BMW had been reported stolen prior to the incident. Both defendants pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

A third man - Anthony Lees, 35, of no fixed address - was charged with burglary and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent but failed to appear at court.

A bench warrant has since been issued for his arrest.

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