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THIS is the moment masked ramraiders smashed through the doors of a cinema in Oxford before ripping a cash machine out of the floor.

Police have released CCTV footage, showing the gang reversing up to the entrance to the Vue Cinema, at the Ozone Leisure Complex, Grenoble Road, before ploughing through the doors and into the lobby area.

Moments later, three masked raiders get out of their black Jeep Cherokee and tie something around the cash machine before wrenching it out of the ground, putting it into the Jeep and making off with the stolen loot.

The cash machine was thought to have contained nearly £5,000 at the time and police officers are hoping the images may jog the memory of anyone who saw the Jeep in the area before or after the attack, which happened at around 3.45am on Thursday, April 12.

Det Con Jacqui Bartlett, from Oxford CID, said: "We have released this CCTV in a bid to do all we can to track the offenders down.

"We have interviewed several people, including the security guard who was working at the time, but we have had limited witnesses come forward.

"I would urge anyone who recognises these men to contact me. Although their faces are disguised, I hope it will trigger a recognition of someone they know, whether it be from their demeanour or movements.

"Although no-one was hurt in this incident, a large number of people were inconvenienced - a number of families who came to the cinema to watch an early showing on the day were made to wait outside while we conducted a thorough forensic analysis of the scene.

"If you happened to have been in either the area where the cash machine was stolen or where this 4x4 was found in the early hours of this morning, we want to hear from you.

"We are also keen to speak to anyone who may have been driving in the Greater Leys area, particularly along Grenoble Road, or along the A4074 and who may have seen this distinctive vehicle."

Security staff watched the whole events unfold from their control room - but decided against tackling the violent ramraiders.

Head of security at Ozone, Christian Benn Ebede, said: "There was someone in the control room and the cameras started monitoring them as soon as they came into the complex. When they became suspicious, they used CCTV to zoom in.

"The man working there was traumatised, really, and when he saw how vicious they were, he didn't want to confront them.

"I can't believe something like this would happen around here, because the car has smashed through the door and driven straight into the concourse.

"It was terrible - it's just like a film if you watch it on the CCTV."

The three people involved, a driver and two passengers, were wearing dark clothing and headgear, including balaclavas.

Detectives believe the Jeep was burned out and abandoned in Goring, near the Leatherne Bottel restaurant, Bridle Way, at about 4.30am the same day.

Call Det Con Bartlett on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Click here to watch footage of the raid