A CASH point was stolen in Bourton-on-the-Water early this morning by thieves using a JCB.

At around 3am today, thieves used a JCB to rip out a cash point at the Co-op on Station Road and then loaded it onto another vehicle, before abandoning the JCB in the car park and leaving the scene.

The culprits were wearing dark coloured hoodies and gloves.

Officers are currently trawling CCTV in the area as part of their enquiries to identify who is responsible.

It is still being established how much money was in the cash point, but it is likely to be thousands of pounds.

A similar incident happened at Tesco in Tetbury on Wednesday, November 30 and the two incidents are being treated as potentially linked.

Owners of JCBs, diggers and teleporters in the area are urged to be vigilant and to take extra precautions in protecting their vehicles, especially overnight.

Where possible, park it in an outbuilding where it can’t be seen, set a security alarm or place a locking device on the steering wheel.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 22 of December 2.

Alternatively, report information to police online at: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact-us/report-a-crime-or-incident/

You can also contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.