Thieves on Thursday morning used a forklift to tear an ATM from the side of a funeral director's building on Halstead High Street in Essex. The incident occurred around 1:50 a.m. when a Matbro digger was used to repeatedly smash into the building, creating a hole.
Footage captured the moment the men attempted to retrieve the cash machine after creating a large opening in the funeral home. Emergency services responded to the scene, and one vehicle involved in the theft was discovered. Police have stated that no arrests have been made, but several witnesses have been interviewed.
Craig Collier, chief operating officer at Daniel Robinson & Sons funeral home, reported being awakened by a call about the incident. He noted the significant noise, suggesting "half the street woke up." Collier expressed concern about the proximity of the theft to the deceased, stating his immediate worry was whether the building's integrity was compromised, potentially requiring the relocation of bodies and notification of families.
The funeral home itself, a separate structure, remained undamaged and operational. A spokesperson for the business highlighted the impact on the local community, noting the loss of the ATM as a vital piece of infrastructure and the disruption to traffic and pedestrian flow. Damage to local phone and internet cables could also affect services.
The business is working to clear debris and reopen the highway, apologizing for any inconvenience caused by temporary and subsequent full repairs. They requested continued community support and understanding.
Essex Police are seeking information, CCTV, dashcam, or other footage related to the incident. Information can be submitted via the Essex Police website or their online Live Chat service. Those wishing to report anonymously can contact Crimestoppers. Police are urging anyone with information who has not yet come forward to do so, referencing incident number 84 of September 10.