Thieves attempted to break into a cash machine in the Co-op in London Road, Headington, Oxford.

The offenders broke into the store by removing the external metal panelling shortly after 1am on Friday.

Nothing was stolen but they had attempted to grind open the cash machine.

Det Chief Insp Colin Paine, leading the investigation, said: “I’m appealing for the public to help us and urge anyone with any information to contact me.

“It is likely these thieves had transport so I would like anyone who might have seen suspicious activity to get in touch.”

Last month, ramraiders smashed a digger into a petrol station and stole a cashpoint from the Summit service station in Stadhampton. Three men in balaclavas were seen using the vehicle to rip the machine off the wall.

In April, thieves escaped with £17,000 of bank notes after ripping out the ATM at McDonald’s at Oxford’s Green Road roundabout and, in April last year, masked raiders stole £5,000 after driving into the lobby of a cinema at Oxford’s Ozone complex.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.