Raiders have used a 4x4 to smash their way into a Chagford shop and steal a cash machine.

Police say the red landrover TDI used to force entry throughthe frontage of The Spar Shop at The Square, Chagford was stolen from Moretonhampstead.

Adding: "Once in the store they used the vehicle to remove a cash point machine from the premises. They left the scene and abandoned the vehicle in nearby farm buildings. Their crime was unsuccessful in that the machine held minimal amounts of money. However, the impact on the local community is significant and the damage to the business premises extensive.

Police believe three people were directly involved with the burglary and that the identities of all three are, at this stage, unknown. The vehicle has been recovered and enquiries are ongoing at every level utilising cctv, witnesses and our scientific resources.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who has seen suspicious behaviour in relation to the location and the recovered vehicle.

The spokesman said: "We ask the public to be vigilant and mindful that criminals who employ such tactics may assess many locations and vehicles prior to picking their ultimate target. Therefore, all suspicious behaviour around such vehicles and outlets may be of interest."