By Casey Neill
Would-be thieves tried to steal an ATM from a Wandin North petrol station – the third strike on a service station in as many weeks.
Police said they used a white van to smash the front window at the BP on the Warburton Highway about 5.35am on Thursday 16 August.
The bandits then tied the ATM to the back of a black sedan, believed to be a Ford, and tried to rip it out.
They didn’t shift the machine, and left the back of the car behind as they drove towards Lilydale from the scene.
Yarra Ranges CIU is looking at this theft, one at the Woori Yallock petrol station on Tuesday 7 August and another at the Healesville BP on Friday 3 August, through one investigation.
They’re not yet sure if they’re linked.
Thieves stole cigarettes and cash from the Healesville raid and fled in a light grey Ford Territory station wagon.
In the Woori Yallock case, they kicked the front automatic door off its tracks at the closed Warburton Highway store and took cigarette lighters.
Anyone with information or dash cam footage from the Wandin North incident should call Senior Constable Adam Stafford at Lilydale CIU on 9739 2300.
