CROOKS ram raided a village shop and made off with cash from an ATM.
Police were called to the Great Totham Village Stores and Post Office in Maldon Road at around 1am this morning.
Thieves hit the side of the store knocking down a wall and making off with cash from a cashpoint.
Neighbours called the police and recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
Police remained on scene throughout Wednesday.
Clare Thompson, who has owned the stores for three years, said: “The window and wall has been ram raided by some vehicle.
“They have knocked the wall down and stolen the cash machine.
“It all happened in the space of two or three minutes.”
Clare, 46, who runs the store with husband Simon, added: “At 1am this morning I was notified the alarm was going off and came straight down and the police were already here.
“One of the people who lived nearby had called the police.
“Luckily no one was hurt.
“I was just totally shocked.”
A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Police are investigating the theft of a cash machine which was stolen at around 1am today from the Post Office in Gt Totham.
"Thieves are believed to have used a vehicle to pull the cash machine from the wall, causing significant damage to the building.
"Detectives would ask members of the public to contact them if they have any information about the incident or if anyone finds the remains of the cash machine discarded.
"They can call Chelmsford CID on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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